PATIENTS at Woodrow Medical Centre are being urged to register with another GP practice soon if they have not already done so as it will close for good at the end of December 2018.
The Care Care Quality Commission (CQC) removed the practice’s licence in March this year due to patient safety concerns and while an interim provider took over they will not be carrying on into 2019.
Efforts to find a new provider by NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have ended in failure and now the practice will close for good.
All patients registered at Woodrow Medical Centre have been sent a letter advising them that they must register with a new GP practice before December 31, 2018, along with details about how to do this.
Dr Richard Davies, Chairman of NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, said: “Our priority is to ensure the care of patients during this interim period is not compromised.
“We would like to assure patients they can continue to access the full range of services being provided at the Woodrow Medical Centre premises until they have registered with another GP practice or until its closure.
“It is important to note that there is growing evidence across the country that GP practices with fewer than 6,000 patients, like Woodrow Medical Centre, are finding it increasingly more difficult to remain sustainable.
“We would like to reassure all patients that the CCG will support them with their decision, and that no one will be left without a GP practice as a result of these changes.”
Jane Stanley, Director of Healthwatch Worcestershire, said: “Our concern, as an independent champion for people using NHS services, is that services to patients are safe and that patients receive the high-quality services that they expect and deserve.
“We would encourage people who were at Woodrow Medical Practice to tell Healthwatch Worcestershire about their experience of finding another GP practice and of any concerns you might have.”
“We can be contacted by visiting our website at www.healthwatchworcestershire.co.uk, by emailing [email protected] or by telephoning 01386 550264.”
More information about these changes can be found on the CCG’s website at www.redditchandbromsgroveccg.nhs.uk/about-us/woodrow.
