New urgent care centres 'put patient lives at risk'

HEALTH chiefs have been accused of putting patients' lives at risk by introducing new medical centres to take pressure off London's overstretched A&E departments.

The Government's urgent care centres are designed to deal with patients who do not need to be treated in casualty units.

NHS managers say the new centres will cut the number clogging up A&E departments with minor illnesses.

However, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the Government had ignored warnings that the centres could put patients at risk.

Mr Lansley referred to a report last month by the College of Emergency Medicine which expressed "serious concerns" about the centres, saying they were "ill thought out" and had been imposed for financial reasons. He added: "With beds being cut, A&E departments being downgraded, the capacity to deal with surges in demand are being undermined."