4,000 people in a Cambridgeshire village will lose their GP surgery at the end of March.
Priors Field Surgery at Sutton near Ely says the doctors who run the surgery are “taking retirement from the practice” and will terminate their contract on March 31.
They have been unable to find replacements.
“All options have been explored, and unfortunately, a sustainable option within Sutton is not viable at this time,” the practice said in a statement today.
The surgery at Sutton has 6,000 patients on its book – a figure that includes some from nearby villages.
Sutton is part of the Fenland Group Practice that includes Manea, Wimblington, Doddington and Ramsey.
“We regret to inform you that Priors Field Surgery will close when this contract ends on 31 March 2023,” told patients.
“We are now working with NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and NHS England to arrange for the patients of Priors Field Surgery to transfer to other local GP practices when the surgery closes.”
The statement added: “We would like to reassure patients that Priors Field practice team and NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are committed to ensuring all patients have access to high quality GP services and care in the future and will provide a smooth transition to their new GP practice.”
The surgery has told patients they do not need to take any further action.
Patients were assured: “You will soon receive a letter confirming which local GP practice you have been allocated, and details about your transfer.
“From now until your registration is complete you will continue to receive GP services from Priors Field Surgery in the same way as you do now.
“Where a mobile phone number is held for you which allows the practice to send text messages to you, a text will be sent to confirm that your registration your new practice has been completed.”
“We appreciate patients may have some concerns about the closure and we aim to address these through our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), which can be found below.
“In addition to this, we will host a series of drop-in sessions for patients to ask questions they may have, further details about these sessions will be shared as soon as possible.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is happening?
The GP Partners at Priors Field Surgery who currently hold a contract to deliver services at Priors Field Surgery are taking retirement from the practice and have served notice to terminate their contract. As a result, Priors Field Surgery will close when this contract ends on 31 March 2023.
Why can’t another GP provide services from Priors Field Surgery?
All options have been explored, and unfortunately, a sustainable option within Sutton is not viable at this time.
How and when will I be allocated my new GP practice?
- You will shortly receive a letter with details about your new GP practice. You do not need to take any action at this point. You will be automatically allocated a new GP practice who provide services to people where you live.
- From now until your registration is complete, you will continue to receive GP services from Priors Field Surgery in the same way as you do now.
- Where a mobile phone number is held for you which allows the practice to send text messages to you, a text will be sent to confirm that your registration your new practice has been completed.
What happens next?
Following confirmation of allocation your new surgery will contact you to arrange a new patient check, which may be carried out over the phone.
This is likely to include a review of any medication you are taking. At your first appointment, the practice may ask you to complete a new patient registration form and return it to the practice, and the practice will advise how to do this.
Will all the members of my family be allocated the same GP practice?
Provided that all members of your family live at the same postcode address, you will be allocated to the same GP practice.
If you are a carer for a family member who does not live at the same address as you, you can request to be registered at the same GP practice. You need to contact us at capccg.primarycare@nhs.net to discuss your individual needs.
Can I register with a GP practice of my choice?
You will be automatically allocated a new GP practice who provide services to people where you live. You do not need to take any action for that to happen.
If you wish to move to a different practice, then we ask that you only do so after Saturday 1 April 2023. This will ensure that your registration is not impacted by the allocation process that is already in progress.
If after this date you are not happy with your allocation, for whatever reason, then you can choose to register at a practice of your choice. You will need to speak to that practice to ensure that you live within the practice boundaries. These practice boundaries ensure that patients can receive home visits when they are necessary. There is a list of local GP Practices at the end of this FAQ.
Use this link
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/
Will patient transport support be provided for those patients unable to travel to their new allocated GP Practice?
There are a number of voluntary schemes who can assist with transport. If you are concerned about how you may access services from your new GP practice please contact them directly to discuss your needs and they can advise on what options are available to you.
East Cambridgeshire District Council also have information on their website regarding Community Transport Schemes including East Cambs Social Car Scheme that covers Sutton and surrounding areas.
Further information can be found here.
Who can I contact for further information or support?
- If you have any queries, please refer to the frequently asked questions available on the practice website.
- You can also contact the NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Patient Experience Team who will support you, on cpicb.pet@nhs.net
- Alternatively, you can contact your local Healthwatch Team on 0330 355 1285 between the hours of 09:00 – 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 – 15:30 on Friday.
Healthwatch is an independent organisation that supports people to have a say when decisions are made about their healthcare services. The feedback it collects is anonymous and it also has an information and signposting service.
You can find more information on their website.
