Member of Parliament for Gosport, Dame Caroline Dinenage, today highlighted concerns about access to GP services in her Constituency with the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP.
This comes after the news this month that Bury Road Surgery may close, due to the lead practitioner retiring without a replacement available, and that Gosport Medical Centre will be merging with the Willow Group for similar reasons.
Caroline raised the issue with the Minister to push the government to ensure adequate primary care services are provided for the Gosport area.
Speaking in Questions to the Department of Health and Social Care, Caroline said:
“Since the beginning of January, Gosport patients have learnt that one of our GP practices is threatened with closure, while another is about to merge with an already very subscribed group of practices.
“Partners are retiring with no replacements. Will the Secretary of State please confirm what he is doing to ensure that my constituents in Gosport can access a GP, and will he please meet with me to discuss it?”
The Secretary of State, Steve Barclay, said in response:
“We are investing more than a fifth compared to 2016 as part of our wider investment programme.”
“I’m very keen to work with her and her ICB, who were operationally set up last summer for the commissioning of primary care for the community to assess what are the needs of Gosport constituents.”
Speaking after the debate, Caroline said:
“Constituents are rightfully concerned about recent proposals to close Bury Road Surgery, and the merger of Gosport Medical Centre with the Willow Group.”
“I am pleased that the Secretary of State is willing to work with myself to encourage Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB to find solutions on this important issue. I will continue fight for my constituents to be able to have access to a GP when they need one.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-To watch Caroline’s question in DHSC Oral Parliamentary Questions, please go to: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/8cac9880-7e71-4dc9-8a3b-027b328865fd#player-tabs
