A practice in Lancashire has moved into a portakabin in the car park of a nearby health centre after its premises lease expired at the end of June.
Viran Medical Centre in West Lancashire now operates out of a ‘medical grade mobile unit’ in the car park of Tarleton Health Centre.
NHS West Lancashire CCG has said the portakabin, which is CQC-approved, ‘has three consultation rooms, a waiting room big enough to seat 12 people and enough space for all practice staff and medical records’.
Earlier this year, the APMS practice’s only GP partner, Dr Mark Hindle, served a notice that he would be handing back his contract over an inability to find new premises once the lease expired.
While the practice declined to comment to Pulse, according to the local paper, Dr Hinder said the move to the new premises was not something he could commit to.
Services at the practice are being temporarily taken over by Beacon Primary Care for a year from 3 July.
Beacon Primary Care, currently looks after 11,650 patients across three sites and is the largest practice in the CCG.
Glebe Surgery in Storrington, West Sussex, was also forced to operate out of portakabins after the practice, which was built for 4,500 patients, grew their patient list to 12,000 when a neighbouring practice closed in 2014.
But NHS West Lancashire CCG said it is still looking to find ‘a permanent arrangement in the near future’ for Viran Medical Centre.
A spokesperson said: ‘The provider of Viran Medical Centre gave notice on its contract earlier this year. Since then, the CCG and NHS England have been working together to find a solution so patient care can continue locally.
’After reviewing several options, the temporary Care Quality Commission (CQC) graded mobile unit was identified as the most suitable temporary solution, which is approximately a mile from the previous location.’
