GP surgeries taking strain after centre closure

Around 2,600 patients were displaced from the Malling General Practice in Wednesbury when it closed in April.

Numbers from Sandwell Council show 900 of those have now moved to The Spires health centre in Victoria Street, causing it to have to up its provision to cope with demand.

The centre's bosses are now considering increasing staffing numbers at the surgery, while it has had to arrange cover to provide an extra four-hour clinic on Monday evenings.

Wednesbury ward Councillor Elaine Costigan said people have even been turning up to The Spires, where there are now almost 4,500 patients, without having registered meaning they are being sent to walk-in centres instead.

She said: "It's just a sad situation.

"All the staff at The Spires are working above and beyond because they don't want to let patients down. They are a fantastic surgery.

"But I would imagine it's probably putting pressure on them."

As well as potentially hiring new staff, GP clinics at The Spires have also been extended from 7am every Wednesday, with extra clinics being added on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays where required.

The centre's nurse has also had to provide additional clinics, while administration staff have needed to change their working practices to accommodate their additional workload.

The Malling surgery was closed in April after the controlling organisation's contract ran out with NHS England, but it had been hoped a new health centre would be open to take on the patient list.

Other local practices have seen their patient lists jump by the hundreds, including the Malling Health Centre in Charles Street, Great Bridge, which as of May had an extra 547 patients, and the Jubilee Health Centre in Upper Russell Street, Wednesbury, which had 292 join.

Another Wednesbury councillor, Peter Hughes, said some people are now going to places such as Darlaston and Tipton for their health care.

NHS England has said it is drawing up plans for a new health centre to replace Malling, and is expecting to have submitted a scheme for planning approval by the autumn. They are then looking to have a new health centre within three years.

Councillor Costigan, who also sits on Sandwell Council's health scrutiny committee, said: "It's much required for the people of Wednesbury, for their health.

"The Spires is doing its bit but they need support from NHS England as well."

A spokeswoman from NHS England said: "NHS England is committed to ensuring everyone in Wednesbury was able to access high-quality local GP services after the closure of Malling Health.

"There continues to be capacity in surrounding local practices to take on patients and all patients were offered alternative access and choices to register with a GP. We know that other local surgeries have taken on patients and as a result of this they are increasing the availability of the patient services they offer.

"NHS England, NHS Property Services Ltd and Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG are working together to develop new plans for the Wednesbury Health Centre project. This will include identifying what healthcare services should be provided at the new centre to meet the needs of the local community.

"This is a complicated project which involves a large number of organisations, however, the NHS is committed to the development of a new health centre in Wednesbury within the next three years."