UPDATED 07 January 2015
It has been a busy week so far with lots of correspondence and calls following the sudden closure of Kings Worthy's GP surgery just before Christmas. Steve Brine has been working with local councillors and residents, as well as health professionals and our council, to get some answers for constituents.
Download Steve's letter to Dr Tim Stannard - 05 January 2015
Download reply from Practice Manager - 06 January 2015
A number of residents in the Kings Worthy area have contacted their MP Steve Brine concerned about the temporary closure of GP services in the village.
Friarsgate Surgery has provided a branch surgery there for many years which are provided from a City Council leased building in Pound Road. However, the facility has been closed due to a problem with the building.
In a message on the surgery website, senior partner Dr Timothy Stannard said; "The current facilities, we feel, now fall short of what you should expect as a patient of this practice and in order to continue to provide you with the highest possible standards of care and environment we are sadly closing the Pound Road branch Surgery, as a temporary measure, due to our concerns over those urgent repairs and changes that are required.
"We are in discussions with our landlords as to the likelihood of urgent repairs being undertaken and we hope to have all services up and running as soon as we can. This is largely dependent on the extent of the repairs necessary and of course the full support from our landlords, Winchester City Council."
Winchester MP Steve Brine adds; "The closure will be a very real worry for many people, especially elderly residents who cannot easily travel into Weeke. I am speaking with the Leader of WCC, Cllr Rob Humby, and pressing him to move swiftly so the necessary works can be carried out and the service restored without any undue delay.
"I am also speaking with my contacts at NHS England who commission all GP services in England because they will need to be satisfied any re-opened service is above all safe for patients. That must be our primary concern and I am exploring with them how they can assist with moving this forward working alongside the City Council.
"I think above all, although this will be causing concern for many, it's important we stick to the facts and do not panic or let people be scared by stories of Kings Worthy being cut off or deserted. This is a temporary measure and the surgery team have been very clear about that. We just now need to all work together for the benefit of the village to make sure it's a very short break in service and a safe surgery can re-open very soon. I will be working to do just that until this is resolved."
During the closure period, all regular services will be available from the main Friarsgate Surgery on Stockbridge Road in Weeke and patients concerned are encouraged to call the surgery if they are at all worried on 01962 871730.
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