NHS England has declared it will save a Grimsby GP practice with 4,500 patients from closing.
Although NHS England is still searching for a new contractor for the Ashwood Surgery – the singlehanded practice that lost its contract due to a CQC inadequate rating – it has made arrangements with a local practice to cover in the interim period and is determined to find a replacement GP contractor.
The plight of the practice was highlighted in the Grimsby Telegraph, which had reported that it faced the risk of closure.
However, locality director for NHS England in Yorkshire and Humber Julie Warren said: ‘We can reassure patients that they are able to continue to access services and attend appointments as usual as the services will be maintained at the surgery premises in Weelsby View Health Centre. Arrangements have been made with a local practice to provide cover for the immediate period.’
She added that the decision to end the current contract and search for a new contractor had been taken ‘after exploring all available options’ and had been taken ‘in the interests of patient safety’.
She said: ‘We will shortly start the process of selecting and appointing a new contractor and GPs to provide services from the surgery. Although this will take some time to complete, services will continue to be maintained at the surgery and patients can continue to make appointments as usual. We will keep patients informed of developments.’
