Two Lincoln GP surgeries under threat must remain open, MP insists

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney has demanded that two GP surgeries in the city undergoing management changes remain open.

As previously reported, Universal Health Ltd has asked the NHS to take over its contract managing Burton Road and Arboretum Surgeries due to financial difficulties.

The Louth-based company, set up as a joint venture between Lincolnshire and District Medical Services and Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, had only been appointed by NHS England to run the practices in 2015.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) will take over the management of the surgeries from Monday, August 1.

The trust will manage the practices at least until December 16.

The seeming uncertainty appears to have not pleased McCartney who has waded into the discussion, unimpressed with what he considers the “general excuses given to the media” by the Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group.

He said: “While it is disappointing that Universal Health has handed the keys back just over a year since they took over, the key matter is that over nearly 6,000 patients are still are able to use those two GP surgeries in my constituency.

“It is vital that the local clinical commissioning group reassures those patients that they will both remain open, serving my constituents as they have done for many years, and that they will urgently address the problems that Universal Health found when they took over, and take steps to be more helpful and supportive to any future management team.

“Our city is growing because of its success as a place to live and work, and the indigenous population is generally growing older.

We need more GP provision, not less, and any moves to close these surgeries will of course have a negative impact on everyone in the city as waiting times for appointments will become worse as those patients have to find somewhere else to register.

“These two surgeries must remain open, and appropriate support provided by Lincolnshire West CCG to ensure a long-term prosperous future that satisfies my constituents, and their patients, across our city.”