A struggling practice in London has been saved from closure after local campaigners persuaded NHS England to bring in new GPs to run it.
The Mitchison Surgery in Canonbury – which has served the community for 30 years – was due to close down next month, after the three GPs running it resigned over problems with the lease, recruitment and workload.
However local paper the Islington Tribune reports that after lobbying by local councillors, NHS England has now announced it is looking for locums to run the practice until a new provider can be brought in next year.
Councillor Martin Klute, who chairs Islington council’s health scrutiny committee, said: ‘I think we made a pretty persuasive argument and the landlord was supportive of continuing to provide GP services, so there was a good case to keep it open. I was realy pleased that they listened.’
An NHS England spokeswoman said: ‘Having listened carefully to patient feedback and after analysing the current provision of GP services in Islington we’re pleased to say we have committed to keeping the Mitchison Road practice open.
‘Registered patients will receive letters from us very soon with more information about these new arrangements.’
Campaigners are continuing to try to save another practice in the area – the Holloway Medical Centre, which is due to close after 40 years on July 24.
However, the paper reports that a third Islington practice caught up in the current crisis affecting general practice, the Bingfield Street Surgery in Barnsbury, closed down last Friday.
