The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A troubled Spalding GP surgery is set to close with more than 3,000 patients being moved to a temporary service being set up at the Johnson Hospital.
But some are worried that they can’t afford taxis to get there and MP John Hayes has called an urgent meeting.
Pennygate Surgery was the subject of a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) report at the beginning of the year, and a recent update said that improvements in some areas at the practice had yet to be made.
In a surprise move, it has been announced that the surgery is closing on September 7 and services transferring to the Johnson Hospital until next March.
South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group wrote to patients at the end of last week, saying that Dr Nathu, who runs the surgery, was retiring and the practice closing as a result.
Mr Hayes, who represents South Holland and the Deepings, said he was concerned that the hospital was not as easy to access for older patients.
“It is good that they are using the Johnson Hospital, but it will be a lot more difficult for a lot of patients who live within easy, or walking distance of the surgery. It could be a difficult journey for those who are frail or disabled,” he said.
Mr Hayes said that he would be leading a public meeting on August 20 at 2.30pm to discuss the issue.
“I am determined to do what is necessary to get the best outcome for people.
“We are talking about healthcare and it could be life or death,” added Mr Hayes.
One patient said he was concerned about being “shuffled around” midway through his cancer treatment.
The man, who declined to be named, said everyone at Pennygate had been very good during his illness.
But the CQC made a raft of recommendations in January when it put the surgery into special measures. A follow-up report in July outlined areas which still needed improving and it retained its “inadequate” rating.
The letter to patients said Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust will be managing the patient list “until at least” March 2019.
The letter adds that the Johnson site does not have a dispensary so prescriptions will have to be taken elsewhere for completing.
Dr Nathu pictured at an earlier event.
“Dr Nathu has served the Pennygate patients for 32 years and has made a tremendous contribution to their health and wellbeing of people locally and we are very grateful for her service,” said the letter which was signed by Andrew Rix, chief operating officer at South Lincolnshire CCG.
Rebecca Neno, deputy director of nursing and quality for South Lincolnshire CCG said: “We would like to reassure patients that we remain committed to providing high quality, safe care to those patients who are currently registered at Pennygate Health Centre. To support patients, we have arranged for staff to be available to answer any queries in relation to their ongoing care.”
The question and answer sessions at the health centre are Tuesday, September 4, 10am to noon, Wednesday, September 5, 4pm to 6pm, Thursday, September 6 from 2pm to 4pm and Friday, September 7 from 10am to noon.
There will be no job losses as a result of the closure, stressed the CCG, which added that the building itself is owned by Dr Nathu.
All staff, including locums, can transfer to the hospital.
The longer-term plans for patients, beyond March 2019, will be discussed.
“We have been working closely with NHS England on an interim arrangement to ensure patients registered at Pennygate Health Centre can continue to access GP services while longer-term plans are considered,” said the CCG statement.
There will be a full consultation exercise with registered patients.
A national shortage of GPs has been widely reported, but Lincolnshire CCGs have been able to recruit a number across the county, added the statement.
