An MP has called for weekday opening to be restored at a clinic to help ease the pressure on A&E services.

Gareth Thomas MP asked Secretary of State for Heath Jeremy Hunt in the House of Commons if money will be made available to reopen Alexandra Avenue polyclinic, in Rayners Lane.

The hours for the walk-in centre were cut in 2011 from opening seven days a week from 8am to 8pm to being shut Monday to Friday.

The service now only operates between 8am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday and on Bank Holidays.

The Harrow West MP said: “The reason for the big rise in A&E admissions is the weekday closure of the hugely popular Alexandra Avenue polyclinic.

“Will the Secretary of State look again at Harrow’s NHS funding formula to determine whether that popular service could be reopened?”

In response to the question in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Hunt said: “I am happy to look at the point that the honourable gentleman raises.

“I have visited the Northwick Park A&E department, where the clinicians on the front line are working incredibly hard.

“As he knows, the funding formula is decided independently - at arm’s length from politicians - but we have ensured that everyone gets a real-terms rise.”

Polyclinic were introduced by the NHS in London seven years ago with the aim of bridging the gap between hospitals and GP practices to offer a range of services under one roof.