Public meetings on future of Dudley GP surgeries

Wordsley Green Medical Practice and Lower Gornal Medical Practice have tabled separate plans to close a site apiece.

Some patients have objected to the schemes with concerns about accessibility of public transport and staffing among those raised.

Health chiefs in the borough will discuss the future of the branches at two meetings - one taking place on Friday afternoon.

Wordsley Green Medical Practice runs its main health centre in The Green, Wordsley, but wants to close its branch surgery in Market Street, Kingswinford.

Patients have been consulted about the move which would see the Kingswinford branch close on March 14.

Overall 9,789 patients are served by the two branches, according to a report going before Dudley CCG's Primary Care Commissioning Committee.

The report says bosses want to close the branch because the building is 'not fit for purpose to meet full clinical specifications' and unable to provide minor surgery and family planning services.

It says around 1,350 patients use Market Street and many patients already attend the Wordsley Green practice for some surgeries.

Officials from the practice say the branch is being run at a loss and a 'substantial' amount of investment would be needed to bring the site up to standard with the lease for the building up by the end of March.

Around 36 patients have raised objections to the closure, according to the report. The report says staff from the branch surgery would transfer to Wordsley Green Health Centre under proposals..

Dudley CCG primary care contracts manager, Julie Robinson, said in the report: "The underlying principle for the CCG to consider when any such proposal is made to them is has the applicant been able to clearly demonstrate the grounds for closure and have they fully considered any impact on the contractors registered population."

The committee will be considering the proposal at the meeting from 1pm being held on the third floor offices of Brierley Hill Health and Social Care Centre, in Venture Way.

Proposals have also been tabled by Lower Gornal Medical Practice to close its Masefield Road branch.

A petition has been received from 316 patients objecting to the closure.

The meeting discussing the Lower Gornal Medical Practice proposal will be held on February 19.

Primary Commissioning Group chairman, Steve Wellings, said: "At each meeting the GP practice concerned will present the case for closure to the committee."