Rail passengers using the Norwich and London route will be among those to benefit from a new walk-in medical service.

Rail passengers using the Norwich and London route will be among those to benefit from a new walk-in medical service.

Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, will officially open an NHS Walk-in Centre close to Liverpool Street Station today, which offers commuters from Norwich and East Anglia a nurse-led service at the end of their journeys into the capital.

It will be the city's first NHS Walk-in Centre for minor injuries and minor illnesses to be sited close to a mainline station.

Liverpool Street is London's busiest and Ms Hewitt said:

“The public has told us that they want faster, more convenient NHS services. Many banks and supermarkets are now open round the clock - the NHS needs to move to match people's expectations for extended opening hours.

“New commuter centres…are a step towards meeting the needs of today's patients, as they will offer advice and treatment outside of GPs' traditional opening times, right on the doorstep of many people's workplace.”

Open from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, it is expected to treat around 43,000 patients a year, including people living and working in the area.

No appointment is necessary and treatment is free apart from some travel vaccines.

The service is led by experienced nurse practitioners with the support of an on-site GP, and is managed for the NHS by General Medical Clinics Plc.

Outside the capital the first NHS Walk-in Centre run by the independent sector opened in Manchester, and others will open at Leeds and Newcastle stations later in 2006.

Michael Summers, chairman of the Patients Association, said:

“The Patients Association is pleased to support the opening of these new centres, which will be of greater value to patients. Being ideally placed will make it very convenient, particularly those going to and from work.”

The centre at Liverpool Street is part of a £50m investment programme for services outside of hospitals by the government. Further clinics are expected at London Canary Wharf, King's Cross and Victoria stations