There’s calls for the NHS to honour a pledge for a surgery in the west of Spalding as it monitors if there’s enough places in the area’s GP surgeries following the announced closure of the Spalding Surgery.
Set up in 2018 to replace the former Pennygate Surgery, it’s 3,000 patients are now to be transferred elsewhere before the planned closure in October.
When its creation at Johnson Hospital was announced it was stated the surgery was only meant to be temporary as the NHS was looking for a suitable site for the west of Spalding.
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) says it is not going to renew the contract to run the Spalding Surgery from the Johnson Hospital when it runs out on September 30.
The only recently formed NHS Integrated Board, which replaces the Lincolnshire Care Commissioning Group (CCG), has launched an ‘Expression of Interest’.
Sarah-Jane Mills, director of primary care, communities and social value, says that involves looking at whether existing services (such as Beechfield and Munro Medical Centres) can take on all of the patients being transferred over while encouraging those who may want to run a GP service to come forward.
“It enables us to do what we call a stress test,” Sarah-Jane said. “We’re making sure nearby GP services have the capacity for these patients.
“It’s so we can be assured the people of Spalding are being supported and practices are putting themselves forward. We need to know they’re not going to be disadvantaged and we’ve got the capacity to maintain care.
She said: “Our aim in the first instance is to ensure people registered with Spalding Surgery are able to access good general practice care.
“In the longer to medium term we’ll look at the levels of care across the whole of Lincolnshire through the primary care network, including looking at where housing developments are.
“We’ll be looking at what’s attainable factoring in the likes of the Urgent Treatment Centre and community pharmacies. It’s so we can be very confident that access for patients will be maintained.”
LCHS, which runs Johnson Hospital, hosted the surgery after Pennygate closed shortly after an ‘inadequate’ rating by the Care Quality Commission
The Spalding Surgery itself was also told it ‘requires improvement’ earlier this year.
LCHS is not renewing the contract that expires on September 30, but has said it will continue to provide services “until an alternative service”.
Tracy Pilcher, director of nursing, AHPs and Operations at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), said: “As the contract comes to an end, the trust has decided to focus on working in partnership with GP surgery providers to develop services in local communities rather than as a provider of GP services.
“We will continue to work closely with the Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board with their plans to ensure a smooth transition for all patients.”
A number of Voice readers expressed their concerns over the move.
Melissa Evans said: “This will massively impact patient care. How can you just “move” patients elsewhere, they are not parcels you can just pass around. Surely this move would place more pressure on the other two big GP practices and then rippling on to the smaller practices just outside.
“It’s already very hard to get an appointment with a GP and the NHS is stretched too thinly in most areas, and there are mass shortages across the boards of nurses and GPs.
“The ones we have can’t possibly work more hours than they already do. Wait times will now be even longer and a possible delay in diagnosis and treatment.”
However Coun Angela Newton, who was among those who rallied against the closure of Pennygate, said she hoped it would lead to a specific surgery for the west of Spalding .
“Brylaine have been brilliant rerouting the bus there but at the Car Voluntary Service we know of many who struggled to get there,” said Coun Newton who is to meet with the NHS this week. “When Pennygate closed they made the pledge they’d look for a site in the west of Spalding and they should do that.”
A consultation including a series of in person events have been announced for patients of Spalding Surgery.
The consultation runs until midnight on Wednesday, September 7 with forms available in the surgery or online.
The online link is at https://lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/spalding-gp-surgery-consultation-news/
The drop in sessions are:
* Event 1 – 6-8pm, July 20 Patio Room, Springfields Events & Conference Centre, Camel Gate, Spalding PE12 6ET
* Event 2 – 10am-12pm, July 22, room ADM124/125, Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding Road, Pinchbeck, Spalding PE11 3DT
* Event 3 – 2.30pm-4.30pm, August 18, Patio Room, Springfields Events & Conference Centre, Camel Gate, Spalding PE12 6ET
If patients would like more information in general about the process or to request information in alternative formats, contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) by telephone on 0300 123 9553 or by email at [email protected]. The service is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays).
