Regarding your front page report in the Voice – Thursday, August 9, (Troubled surgery will close to patients).
I had been a patient at the Pennygate Surgery for the last 29 years because of living in the ward of Monks House, but recently I transferred to the Munro Medical Centre practice.
When the news first broke about the Pennygate Centre being put under special measures I submitted a letter of support as Dr Nathu has served the community for over 30 years and along with her team has made a great contribution to many people in the area.
I was hoping the South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group were going to put measures in place to turn the practice round, but with Dr Nathu retiring on the September 8 there will be grave concerns now for the long term care of 3,200 patients, this includes members of my family that are still registered with the practice.
Andrew Rix, Chief Operating Officer, South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, put out the closure communication on August 3, and the letter refers to the new health provider being for an interim period only, whilst longer term arrangements are considered.
The ideal solution would have been to draft new doctors into the current location for the benefit of the local community, but with Dr Nathu owning the property on the site this will remain a grey area for the future use of the building and what it could be used for.
The fact remaining, 3,200 people looking for long term care will impact other providers.
Also with more housing development and more people coming to the area there will be demands for more patient care in South Holland and The Deepings over the next decade.
Finally, with the current governments promise of extra funding for the NHS, 3.4 per cent increase, in real terms 394 million a week over a ten year plan, let’s hope this support is cascaded down fairly to local communities like South Holland & The
Deepings for the long term wellbeing of our community.
I am sure many people will be wanting our local MP, John Hayes to be fighting our corner on behalf of his constituents in South Holland & The Deepings.
Rodney Sadd
Carrington Road
Spalding
