Concern for patients’ access to care as Nottinghamshire GP practice to close

Nottinghamshire councillors say they are concerned about the closure of a GP practice with around 4,400 patients. Dr Kaistha, who runs Riverbank Medical Services in Warsop, served three months’ notice on his GP contract last month.

It has prompted worry amongst patients, councillors who represent the area said. Councillor Jack Stephenson, who represents the Market Warsop ward for Labour at Mansfield District Council said he was “deeply disappointed” by the closure and the subsequent “lack of communication” from local health leaders.

NHS Nottinghamshire said patients would receive a letter this week confirming where they will be transferred to. Cllr Stephenson said the majority would go to Meden Medical, Warsop’s other practice which already provides services for 6,000 patients, according to its most recent Care Quality Commission report in 2020.

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“Dr Kaistha has earned their retirement and plenty of notice was given for another GP to be found,” said the Labour councillor. “Instead, the majority of around 4,500 patients will be transferred to Meden Medical.

“In a world where there is already a significant strain on NHS services due to lack of foresight from central government, residents who have contacted me are rightly concerned about how their new GP will manage such an influx of patients and how long they will have to wait for an appointment. I know the existing staff will carry on doing an excellent job and I hope, for the sake of Warsop residents, waiting times can be kept to a minimum.”

Cllr Andrew Burgin, who represents the Warsop Carrs ward, shared his concerns. “There’s 4,500 patients there that are going to be displaced, and they’re concerned about where they’re going to get their GP services from going forward,” said the Labour councillor.

“That in turn would lead to concerns around capacity because it is another small surgery that has a limited number of GPs like most practices do. We know there’s a GP shortage in this country. There are people with serious ailments that need regular access to GP services.

“It’s already difficult to get an appointment when you need one at most GP services so moving 4,500 people is naturally going to cause capacity issues. I would have preferred for the practice to have been kept open and another GP to run it.”

NHS Nottinghamshire said when patients are transferred to other practices, funding would be moved with the them. “All patients are being transferred to a new practice close to where they live and they will receive a letter early next week with the details,” said a spokesperson.

“The transfer will take place automatically and patients do not need to do anything to support this process. If patients wish to register at a different practice to the one they have been transferred to, they can do so, as long as the practice covers the area where they live. If a patient wishes to do this, we ask that they wait until after the 1 July 2023 to allow for the transfer process to finish.”

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