Mystery as GP practice leaves 11,000 patients in uncertainty
THOUSANDS of patients are facing uncertainty after partners at a Nottingham GP practice handed back their contract.
Providers at The Windmill Practice in Sneinton – which has almost 11,000 patients – will leave at the end of May.
Nottinghamshire NHS leaders said there would be “no immediate changes” for patients and that they had started the process to find a new provider by June.
Neither the practice nor the NHS would confirm to the Post the reason for the withdrawal.
“Our aim is to ensure the continuation of high-quality primary medical services for patients,” said commissioning delivery director Victoria Mcgregorriley. “All eligible practice staff will have the opportunity to transfer to the new provider under TUPE arrangements.”
Dr Irfan Malik, a partner at Elmswood Surgery in Sherwood, said the news was “very sad for the Sneinton community”.
“The Windmill Practice is an excellent, inner-city training practice, specialising in homelessness, drug and alcohol care. It is not a failing practice like some others that have closed. So why did the partners hand back the contract? Overall general practice has had resource cuts year on year and now many practices are struggling to continue providing a quality service to their patients.”
The practice was the workplace of the late Dr Michael Varnam, an esteemed GP who has both an award and supported living complex named in his honour.
A new provider would take on a contract for 10 years, with the option to extend for up to five more. The application window closes on March 26.
The Windmill Practice has been approached for comment.