NHS bosses decided to keep a village GP surgery open after fears were raised that its closure would leave elderly people with too far to travel for treatment.
The potential closure of Swillington Health Practice sparked a public outcry after a review of GP services was launched by NHS bosses. Healthcare provider Grange Medicare will cease running the surgery, along with New Cross Surgery in Rothwell and Middleton Park Surgery, when its contract ends in October.
NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) Partnership decided to keep all three open after carrying out a public consultation. The CCG Partnership’s Primary Care Commissioning Committee said new providers would be found to take over the Rothwell and Middleton surgeries. And separately, an existing GP practice will be sought to take on the Swillington surgery as a branch surgery.
A CCG spokesperson said: “The committee agreed that Swillington Health Practice will remain as a local site and discussions will take place with local providers to secure GP services for the registered population.” A report to the CCG committee said closing the Swillington surgery had been considered as one option.
It said: “There was strong feeling that closing Swillington practice would have a negative impact on the elderly population, especially those with mobility issues and long term conditions. “Local GP providers have shown an interest in running the practice as a branch surgery.”
Article originally appeared on Yorkshire Evening Post
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