A community group is urging people to get behind its campaign to reverse the decision to make a popular walk-in centre appointment-only.

Several members of #Fixit Harrow Network were concerned about the changes to Alexandra Avenue Health Centre, in South Harrow.

Visitors will now need to make an appointment in advance if they wish to see a doctor. Previously, it acted as one of three walk-in centres in the borough.

It will also only be available to those registered with a GP in Harrow, irrespective of where people live.

Caren Duhig, founder of #Fixit, started an online petition to express these worries and she hopes to see the walk-in services resumed.

“We need to maintain and protect our services and know that they are local and available. More cuts to our services are only serving to increase anxiety among residents,” she explained.

“I'm sure that most people will agree that it's difficult getting an appointment with your GP already, unless you join the phone queue from very early in the morning and, even then, it's hit and miss.

“Elderly and vulnerable patients, and parents within the local area, are most likely to be hit the hardest by this change to the Alex clinic’s availability too – it is essential that we ensure those people have a voice.”

There are fears that the closure of the walk-in service will increase pressures on the A&E department at Northwick Park Hospital.

And Cllr Graham Henson, leader of Harrow Council, said he was particularly disappointed that those living in Harrow but registered with a GP in Hillingdon or Ealing, for example, will lose out.

The decision to make these changes have been criticised by Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, and he intends to lobby for their reversal.

Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group, which made the call, explained that it was taken to ensure that people have “greater access to primary care”.

It added that there are “no current plans” to alter the situation at Pinn Medical Centre or Belmont Health Centre, the remaining walk-in centres in Harrow.

Click here to view Ms Duhig’s petition.