The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A public meeting has been called to discuss the closure of the Spalding GP Surgery amid a call for Pinchbeck to get its own surgery.
Coun Angela Newton has organised the meeting as she said the NHS consultation events being held about the closure are ‘have not been very positive’.
The public meeting will take place on Monday, September 5 from 6pm to 8pm at South Holland District Council’s Priory Road office.
Coun Newton said: “It’s to allow patients to air their concerns as feedback from the meetings organised by NHS have not been very positive.
“We will have people on hand to help them fill in their surveys and email them back to Lincolnshire ICB by September 7, the closing date for observation.”
After the closure of the Pennygate Surgery, the Spalding GP Surgery was set up at the Johnson Hospital in Spalding.
It was initially stated as a temporary measure while the NHS found a suitable location for a surgery for the west of Spalding.
Coun Elizabeth Sneath, says many of the patients that look set to be registered at other practices are from Pinchbeck.
She says the village should have its own surgery.
“Many residents from Pinchbeck have contacted me with their disappointment at the plans to close the hospital surgery,” she said. “It is easily accessible for this side of town and there is plenty of parking.
“Pinchbeck is growing so much that we could do with our own surgery, we used to have one but many of us now must travel to Gosberton if we don’t want to use the in town surgeries.
“It will soon seem a better option to travel to a Bourne surgery especially from West Pinchbeck and the road is far less congested.”
The NHS has also put on additional consultation sessions it says “following delays to the initial letter being received”.
A second letter went to those registered with the Spalding GP Surgery which included an apology for the late sending out of a first letter announcing the consultation events.
The last of the originally scheduled three is today (Thursday, August 18) from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at Springfields Events and Conference Centre’s Patio Room.
Another event will now take place at the same venue on Tuesday (August 23) from 6pm to 8pm.
The final consultation is at the South Holland Centre from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, August 31.
If you would like to request information in alternative formats or receive a copy of the survey or frequently asked questions by post, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0300 1239553 or email LHNT.LincsPALS@nhs.net. The service is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
