Walk-in GP surgery at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital to stay for another five years

Malling Health has run a walk-in service and doctors surgery since 2009 in modular buildings in the grounds of the hospital in Apley.

Permission has now been granted to allow it to remain in the buildings for the next five years.

The medical practice is open from 8am until 8pm and primarily provides a walk-in function for patients, along with a GPs surgery.

A design and access statement on the plans says it has proved to be "very successful" since it was launched.

The practice is now allowed to remain in place until 2005, when the buildings, which were sourced by Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust from healthcare premises out of county, must be removed and the land restored to its previous condition.

Making its decision, Telford & Wrekin Council said that the "building is unsuitable to form part of the permanent development of the area" and will face further review at the end of the five-year period.

Despite the time extension being granted approval by the authority, the future of walk-in health services in the borough is under review by Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group.

Plans outlined by CCG bosses in a report to Telford & Wrekin Council's health and adult care scrutiny committee say that a decision on the future of walk-in services is expected to be made in January, with a more detailed plan in place by March.

The plans were submitted at the start of November and were approved on Tuesday.

Another walk-in centre was previously operated by Malling Health on Sherwood Row in Telford Shopping Centre.

But that closed in July, forcing 3,000 registered patients to move to other surgeries.

Health bosses found that walk-in capacity was "under-utilised" and conditions "cramped" and not fit for purpose, according to a report to Telford & Wrekin Council's health and adult care scrutiny committee.