Business as usual at popular GP surgery

PATIENTS at one of Hinckley’s largest surgeries are being reassured it will remain business as usual despite the departure of their regular GPs.

Long-standing family doctors Dr Solanki and Dr Bagga are leaving the Centre Surgery at the end of this week, having decided not to renew their contract to provide services.

Some 5,500 patients are registed at the site off Hill Street.

They will now receive letters from West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) ou tlining how the surgery will be managed April 1.

Hinckley and Bosworth Medical Alliance is taking over on a temporary contract to ensure services are retained.

Angela Bright, from the CCG, the body which provides and purchases healthcare for Hinckley and Bosworth, said: “We are pleased to award the short term contract to Hinckley and Bosworth Medical Alliance who will work innovatively together to sustain robust primary medical care services at Centre Surgery.

“We know that building a relationship with a new GP takes a little while but we feel that GPs in the Alliance from really know the Hinckley and Bosworth community and will build up a strong relationship with patients very quickly.”

The Alliance is a group of neighbourhood GP practices working together to provide more services for patients locally.

They will provide care for the next 12 months but the long-term future of the surgery and who will operate NHS services from it has yet to be determined.

Dr Will Priestman, chairman of Hinckley and Bosworth Medical Alliance Ltd and GP at Heath Lane Surgery, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this contract to support registered patients at Centre Surgery to maintain their health and wellbeing.

“We would like to assure patients that they will still be able to use their practice as normal and receive care from doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

“The majority of staff they see will still be the friendly faces they are used to.”

The CCG has pledged to keep patients, carers and staff in the loop about what will happen once this year-long contract comes to an end.

Angela said: “Later in the year we will undertake our statutory duties and consult with stakeholders and will write to them to let them know how they can get involved.”

Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the NHS Customer Contact Centre via england.contactus@nhs.uk or call 0300 311 2233.