The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The former Pinchbeck and Pennygate surgeries are to reopen while the Spalding GP Surgery will now definitely close as health bosses hope to end the limbo its 3,300 patients have been in.
In July it was announced that the service, based at the Johnson Hospital since 2018 to replace Pennygate Surgery, would be closing last October.
But after a public consultation it remained open and, in November, NHS bosses announced that all those registered with Spalding GP Surgery would be transferred to Gosberton stating that practice was ‘committed’ to continuing services at the Johnson Hospital site.
However on Tuesday, it was announced that GP services there would be discontinued once all 3,300 patients are registered elsewhere, mostly between Beechfield, Munro and Gosberton medical centres.
The NHS say Beechfield is to reopen the Pennygate Surgery this month, with Munro to open the Church Walk surgery in Pinchbeck next month.
Sarah-Jane Mills, director for primary care, communities and social values at NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), says the NHS has listened to patients after it became apparent that Gosberton Surgery was not planning a full GP service for the Johnson Hospital.
“We did an extensive public engagement and one of the main concerns many had was that for various personal circumstances would not get easy access at that centre,” she said. “We’ve spoken to councillors, HW Lincs, patient groups and individual patients because it became apparent we wouldn’t be able to provide a full service at Spalding.
“The intention was to provide some clinics, but not a full service and some members of the public were concerned about that.
“With Beechfield reopening Pennygate and Munro reopening Church Walk at Pinchbeck it provides a great opportunity for people to have that personal choice.
“We’ll begin allocating registrations in February but we’ve a window now to allow Spalding GP Surgery patients to register at which of the practices is most convenient for them.
“The most important thing is for people to get the GP service they need.”
Ms Mills continued that Spalding GP Surgery staff were in the process of being allocated other roles, but that it would remain open until every patient is re-registered elsewhere.
She also said she was confident this would provide a final solution for Spalding GP Surgery patients.
“The important thing for me is we stabilise the situation for people registered at the Spalding GP Surgery as for them it’s been going on for a long time.
“We know we’ve got work to do in terms of growth and we’re really committed to making the best use of the Johnson Hospital site,” she continued. “It’s an excellent Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) open seven days a week.”
Two patient drop-in events will be held in January where ICB staff will be on hand to explain more about the process, provide practical support, and answer any questions.
They are on Thursdays, January 19 and 26 at Meeting Room 124 of the Johnson Community Hospital from 2pm to 4pm.
