Latest news with #GPsurgery
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Higham campaigners hope 10-year NHS plan will save GP surgery
Campaigners fighting to save their local GP surgery believe the government's 10-year plan for the NHS will help them Medical Practice in north Kent has applied to close one of the four sites it operates from, in Higham, which it said is financially unsustainable.A campaign and petition have been launched to save practice said closing one surgery was the only way to safeguard its three other sites. On 2 July Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer launched a series of wide ranging reforms to the NHS, to be carried out over the next Angell, who started the petition to save Higham surgery, said: "It mentions communities and villages having direct access to care."I'm hopeful that means, whether the surgery does or does not close, there will be a replacement service." The application to close the surgery will now be considered by the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB).Ms Angell said she and fellow campaigners would be lobbying the board."I'm hopeful" she said, "the fight isn't over."I just hope the ICB give us the time we need to be able to express our concerns and take them on board."Highparks also runs surgeries in Cliffe Woods, Cliffe and Wainscott. 'Struggled with challenges' A spokesperson for Highparks Medical Practice said: "All four sites work together as a single practice serving over 15,000 patients, who can be seen at any location regardless of which site is nearest their home."Both this government and the previous one have prioritised general practice at scale. The latest plans focus on large health hubs like the Healthy Living Centres in Medway but do not address how to sustain small rural surgeries like ours."As a partnership, we have struggled with these challenges for years and are saddened by the need to close one site. Despite extensive discussions with the local Integrated Care Board and political representatives, no alternative has been found."Unless the government addresses rural primary care challenges, practices like ours will continue to face difficult decisions. This decision safeguards the future of the practice and the care of over 15,000 patients."
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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. READ MORE: Two men assaulted in village near Derby after 'teenagers' jump out of car and launch attack READ MORE: Police update after murder investigation opened into death of Derbyshire man Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone 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.' Read more - Derby County face £5m transfer wait amid Patrick Agyemang development 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. ' We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sherston residents concerned GP surgery could go completely
Residents say they are concerned they may lose their GP surgery if the local NHS care board does not commit to a new Tolsey Surgery in Sherston, Wiltshire, serves more than 3,000 patients, but is in an unsuitable older local parish council has agreed plans with a local developer to create a new onw, but the NHS is yet to confirm it will support the project even though the lease on the current building runs out in 18 local integrated care board has said it is in conversation with the surgery, but that decisions around future investment "can only be made when the necessary funding becomes available". Local MP Roz Savage, Liberal Democrat, has started a petition on the issue, and it has been signed by 500 people."In a village the size of Sherston, that's significant. The intention is to make the voices of Sherston heard in Westminster," she said poor rural public transport means it is "just not realistic" to expect the "least mobile" people, such as the elderly, to travel to the nearest surgery in Malmesbury. "Without this surgery, people will die. I know that because I'm one of them" said resident Gerard Joynson had a melanoma on his lung and it was removed quickly - but he does not think he would have been treated as quickly if he had not had the surgery in Sherston."Without this surgery, I would never have got there [the hospital] in time." With 18 months to go before the lease runs out on the old building and no agreement over the new one, local people say they are Burgess, the chair of the parish council, explained it had already put together the plan for the new one, and just need approval from the NHS."It's really the hub of the village. It is already deemed not fit for service. We've got a plan to build one. We just need a commitment for them to rent it," she said. Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said it has been in "constant dialogue" with Tolsey Surgery."Decisions around possible future investment in the local primary care estate can only be made when the necessary funding becomes available, and the anticipated work delivers benefits for all of the practices working within any given primary care network."Such decisions are kept under constant review, and we continue to listen and engage with the practice and its staff, and with interested parties from across the community in Sherston, around all aspects of local health provision."
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Assura urged to reject bid from predator KKR
The battle for the future of GP surgery owner Assura escalated yesterday after a rival urged it to reject a bid from a private equity predator. Assura this week recommended that shareholders accept a sweetened £1.7billion bid from American buyout giant KKR and New York investment firm Stonepeak. The deal would see properties leased to the NHS, including doctors' surgeries, hospitals and hospices, fall into the hands of overseas owners. Most recently, Primary Health Properties (PHP) offered £1.68billion to buy Assura but it argued yesterday that its cash and stock bid is now worth more – as the value moves depending on share prices. And PHP dismissed Assura's claim that its offer posed 'material risks and downsides' for shareholders as it urged investors to take no action in relation to KKR's bid. A takeover by PHP would retain the properties under the ownership of a London-listed business. And it said Government spending plans for the NHS over the next three years would benefit both firms. KKR and PHP have been locked in a months-long tussle which has seen both parties up their offers several times since February to try to clinch a deal. The US private equity giant has made a 'best and final' cash offer of £1.7billion, up from its previous bid of £1.61billion. The bid of 52.1p per share includes two dividends: one which has already been paid and another that was declared last month. Russ Mould, investment director at broker AJ Bell, said: 'Shareholders in Assura now have the luxury of sitting back to watch what happens, in the view that some sort of deal seems certain.' Assura declined to comment.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Caister Health Centre to reopen after drains issue found
A GP surgery in Norfolk is to reopen on Monday after an investigation into why staff fell ill discovered issues with the Health Centre was evacuated on 29 April when staff complained of headaches and feeling tired. It then had to be closed again, with specialist contractors brought in to find a Norfolk Medical Practice, which runs GP services at the site, said: "Investigations of the building found a drainage issue which is thought to have been the source of the challenges we experienced."The drains have now been cleared and we are confident that the premises is safe for our patients and team." A number of staff had to be checked by paramedics following the first evacuation, with 16 seeking advice at the local police and gas network operator Cadent also attended. Anglian Water, which operates the sewer network, did not find any neighbouring pharmacy and dental surgery saw its services disrupted, with patients sent elsewhere for a weeks ago, specialist contractors were brought in to assess air quality and discovered the drainage issue, which has required remedial work. East Norfolk Medical Practice said the health centre would reopen on Monday, "to deliver normal practice services"."We'd like to thank all our staff and patients for their ongoing support and understanding while we worked to investigate and resolve this issue as quickly as possible, and we apologise for any inconvenience this caused." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
