WOODROW Medical Centre is to close at the end of this year meaning patients will need to register with a new GP practice.
After the Care Quality Commission (CQC) took action in March earlier this year to remove the practice’s licence due to patient safety concerns, an interim provider was brought in to provide services at the Centre.
However NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been unable to find permanent clinical provider to continue the prsctice in the Woodrow area.
As a result the CCG has decided to close the practice when the contract comes to an end.
All patients registered at Woodrow Medical Centre will be receiving a letter about this decision and to advise them that they must register with a new GP practice before 31 December 2018, along with details about how to do this.
GP practices with vacancies for patients are: Winyates Health Centre, Winyates, Redditch, B98 0NR; Crabbs Cross Surgery, 38 Kenilworth Close, Crabbs Cross, B97 5JX; The Medical Centre Crabbs Cross, 39 Kenilworth Close, Crabbs Cross, B97 5JX.
To support patients with the transition the CCG is holding a number of drop-in sessions over the next few weeks where patients can discuss any concerns that they may have. The first two sessions are on Monday, October 8 from 2pm to 4pm at Woodrow Library (25 Woodrow Centre, Studley Road, Redditch, B98 7RY) and on Thursday, October 11, from 12noon to 2pm again at Woodrow Library.
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 us about their experience of finding another GP practice and any concerns they might have.”
Email [email protected] or call 01386 550264.
Woodrow Medical Centre was brought to the attention of the CQC after a whistleblower raised the alarm leading to an unannounced visit by inspectors who found serious concerns over patient safety.
