Health promotion interventions in walk-in centres: the findings of an investigation into opportunities to talk with clients about smoking cessation, weight management and alcohol interventions

NHS walk-in centres (WICs) were opened in 2000 to modernise the NHS and increase accessibility to healthcare. They developed rapidly and are used successfully by the public. But little is known about the clients presenting and even less about health promotion and disease prevention strategies adopted by WICs. This review aims to explore, through client profiling, whether there is an opportunity for health promotion service delivery in WICs and minor injuries/illness units. The findings indicate that clients attending these units are similar in profile to those presenting to GPs and emergency departments, and that there is an opportunity to use these centres more effectively for health promotion.