Further to the decision by Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (LWCCG) to close two of the City of Lincoln’s GP surgeries in January 2017, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney MP has expressed his complete frustration after a long campaign and numerous meetings to ensure the LWCCG did all they could to encourage GP Services to continue to be provided at both locations, and specifically the Burton Road Surgery.
Karl has immediately called on LWCCG to publicly guarantee that waiting times for doctor’s appointments City will not increase. Over 5,500 patients have been told they must now register with alternative GP surgeries and Karl will be raising his concerns officially with the Secretary of State for Health as he believes the LWCCG must now explain what healthcare provision specifically is going to be available to his constituents.
The two surgeries affected are the Arboretum Surgery in Monks Road (3,056 registered patients) and the Burton Road Surgery (2,447 patients) and letters have been sent to registered patients urging them to register with six (Arboretum) and four (Burton Road) alternative 'nearby' GP surgeries. Karl has campaigned to keep Burton Road surgery open for a number of years because of the vital service it provides to specifically indigenous and older generation Lincoln residents who like he and his family do not want to re-register at the other surgery on Burton Road because of their past experiences at this Surgery.
Karl is particularly concerned about the knock-on effect that absorbing 5,500 extra patients will have on overall doctor’s waiting times for patients at the existing surgeries. He is urging LWCCG to make a public guarantee that these two closures will not have an adverse effect on waiting times for everyone in the City of Lincoln.
Karl McCartney JP MP, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, said: “It is deeply disappointing that a long term provider for these two vital GP surgeries has not been found and I greatly fear there will be a knock-on effect that makes it harder for everyone in Lincoln to see a doctor as quickly as they might wish to, and should do.
“Our City is growing because of its success as a place to live and work, and the indigenous population is generally growing older. We need more GP provision, not less, so these closures have to be met with increased capacity in existing surgeries. This is why the Clinical Commissioning Group must reassure patients and taxpayers by publicly pledging that these closures will not lead to longer waiting times. I await their public reassurance with interest.”
- ENDS –
- The surgeries in Lincoln are:
Arboretum Surgery, 76 Monks Road, Lincoln, LN2 5HU (3,056 registered patients)
Burton Road Surgery, 181 Burton Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 3LT (2,447 registered patients)
For further information, please contact Karl McCartney MP at [email protected] / 020 7219 7221.