September 28, 2016 10.06 am This story is over 89 months old

Lincoln GP surgery faces closure due to “significant challenges”

A Lincoln GP surgery is facing closure following plans released by the owners. Patients of South Park Surgery, on St Catherine’s, received a letter from owners this week explaining the plans for closure. The surgery has been plagued by challenges. Earlier this year former practice manager Stuart Coffey was jailed for stealing £260,000 from the business.…

A Lincoln GP surgery is facing closure following plans released by the owners.

Patients of South Park Surgery, on St Catherine’s, received a letter from owners this week explaining the plans for closure.

The surgery has been plagued by challenges. Earlier this year former practice manager Stuart Coffey was jailed for stealing £260,000 from the business. He left the surgery with rent arrears of almost £40,000.

In 2014, surgery partner Doctor Baratho Ravikumar also sadly died after drowning on holiday.

Patients at the surgery have been told that their registration will be transferred to The Heath Surgery in Bracebridge Heath and staff at the surgery will also be transferred.

Member of Parliament for Lincoln Karl McCartney has promised to keep a close eye on the situation at the surgery and has said that equivalent services will still be available to all patients.

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney Photo: Steve Smailes/The Lincolnite

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney says the surgery has faced significant challenges in recent years. Photo: Steve Smailes/The Lincolnite

Karl McCartney said: “I am sure patients at South Park Surgery will be very disappointed by the proposal to close the branch surgery at South Park in Lincoln.

“The surgery has faced significant challenges in recent years, but I have been assured that, if this closure goes ahead, better quality healthcare will be delivered and at less cost to taxpayers.

“It is also welcome news that all current admin and health staff will continue to work at The Heath Surgery in Bracebridge Heath, that no jobs will be lost as a result of this proposal and equivalent services will still be available to my constituents.

“I will, of course, be watching the situation closely to ensure that our local Clinical Commissioning Group keeps its pledges to my constituents and South Park’s patients.

“We all need to ensure they continue to receive the best quality GP services.”