A ‘temporary’ arrangement to run a GP service at Spalding’s Johnson Hospital is to stay at the community hospital for at least another two years.
The service was first established after the Pennygate Surgery closed its doors in August 2018.
At the time the new surgery was said to be at the hospital only as a temporary measure.
The Lincolnshire Community Health Service NHS Trust has run the surgery since October 2019. At the time the Care Commissioning Group for the area said it aspired to open a practice on the west side of Spalding.
But the surgery is set to stay at the town’s community hospital at least until 2022, it was revealed this week.
Tracy Pilcher, director of nursing, allied health professionals and operations at the community health service, said: “The service remains based at Johnson Community Hospital. Any decision relating to the future location of this service would be made in conjunction with NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group as the service commissioner.”
A CCG spokesman said it was still hoping for a site to the west of Spalding as a longer-term plan.
The news comes as the results of a nationwide survey showed it was ahead of the average when it came to overall experience.
The survey, run on behalf of the NHS, was sent to more than two million people across the country asking for feedback on their GP service.
The Spalding Surgery was above the national average in all sectors of the survey with 92 per cent for the overall patient experience.
This year’s figure improved from 76 per cent in last year’s results.
“We are incredibly proud of this feedback, which places Spalding GP Surgery above average in all areas when comparing them with other practices both locally and nationally. This is testament to the ongoing hard work of the whole practice team to offer great care and a positive experience to anyone in need of help,” said a statement from the community health service.
Within the survey, 97 per cent of respondents said they had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional they saw or spoke to. The figure was up by two per cent on last year’s results.
All GP services were involved in the survey and the overall experience for other surgeries in the area were: Munro 88 per cent, Beechfield 80 per cent, Moulton Medical Centre 88 per cent. Gosberton Medical Centre 90 per cent, Holbeach Medical Centre 61 per cent, Abbeyview, Crowland, 92 per cent and Long Sutton 84 per cent. The local average is 81 per cent and the national average stands at 82 per cent.
The full results of this year’s patient survey can be found on the website: www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk
