Talks break down in last-ditch effort to keep Derby GP surgery open
Talks to keep a Derby GP surgery open and avoid closure have broken down, councillors have said. Park Medical Practice has proposed closing its Oakwood surgery on Bishops Drive permanently due to it being 'no longer fit for purpose' and concerns over public safety.
Earlier this month the practice sent a text to patients detailing its plans for closure later this year and said services from the branch would move to its other surgeries in Chaddesden and Borrowash – the latter of which could be expanded subject to planning permissions.
This has led to fears in the Oakwood community that people with mobility issues or those who are unable to drive may struggle to see their doctor near where they live. There is another GP surgery in the area but it is understood to be struggling with its capacity already.
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Park Medical Practice says the Bishops Drive building is now more than 40 years old and 'does not comply with the requirements of primary care standards in today's world'. Another issue is the building is not owned by the surgery. A final decision on its future is expected soon.
The community concern has led councillors in the area to hold a meeting with the surgery and other stakeholders to see if there is a way in which closure can be avoided. But it appears the meeting proved unsuccessful.
The councillors released the following statement: 'Unfortunately, a way forwards to keep the practice open was not found during this meeting, and we do not believe a way forwards to keep the practice open is likely to be found.
'Given the expansion happening at Borrowash, the reduced use of Oakwood over recent years, and issues with the condition of the building and ability to expand, we now expect that Park Medical Practice will continue to seek to close their Oakwood branch.
'We will also be working together to seek to improve transport networks between Oakwood and the Maine Drive and Borrowash PMP locations. This is not the update we wanted to issue, we really hoped that getting everyone together would allow us to find a solution... but it became clear that there was no way for Park Medical Practice to seek to remain.'
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The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached the practice for comment on the councillors' latest statement.
Documents provided by the practice state there are several issues with the Oakwood branch surgery. These include: Very narrow corridors, steep steps outside to and from the car park, 'unsociable behaviour, including abuse to staff and patients' and the smashing of CCTV cameras.
The report says: 'Upgrading the building to meet current standards and making it suitable for use would incur significant costs, which would not be justified by staff resources, overhead costs, and general running expenses. The site is unable to offer the complete range of services expected by CQC and NHS, and there is no scope for expansion. The building is not suitable for providing modern healthcare services. '
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