Closure warning on GP surgeries

Doctors' surgeries across South Staffordshire are being given extra support following fears some could be closed in favour of opening new multi-practice health centres and clinics.

A new campaign has been launched to support GP surgeries in the district in the hope of safeguarding the traditional set-up of practices. South Staffordshire Local Medical Committee, the representative body for family doctors in the area, has set up the Support Your Surgery campaign.

Committee secretary Dr David Dickson said: "Locally we are having a large polyclinic imposed in the Burntwood and Chase Terrace area in order to improve services for patients.

"In fact, the local GPs in that area have been pressing various health authorities for many years for help to improve their premises but this has never been acted on.

"The large sum of money allocated to the development of the new centre would be better spent assisting the local GPs improve or renew their existing buildings."

Dr Dickson added that the committee was concerned that the imposed solution of a polyclinic would destabilise all local GP practices in that area – and warned that some surgeries could face closure.

He said: "The new initiative has the potential to harm existing patient care and distract from the real and long-established needs of the locality.

"In order to develop the NHS to fit the needs of local patients there has to be local determination of what is required and primary care trusts need the permission to develop these local solutions with the agreement of local people."

The committee is urging patients to join it in campaigning to protect high- class GP services in the district.