Lincoln MP petitions to save village GP surgery

Lincoln MP Karen Lee has slammed proposals to close a GP surgery in the Lincoln village of Skellingthorpe.

As previously reported, the health centre on Lincoln Road has been earmarked as a possible site for closure in the coming months.

Skellingthorpe’s GP is run by the Glebe Practice group, which also has a branch is Saxilby, and looks after a combined 8,209 patients.

NHS Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) confirmed they have been approached by partners at the Glebe Practice.

They are now exploring the possibility of closure and measuring the impact it would have on the village.

But Karen Lee, the Member of Parliament for Lincoln, has set up a petition to try and keep the centre open. At the time of writing it had 156 signatures.

In a statement sent to The Lincolnite, she said: “It is completely unacceptable that local GP services, which are already overstretched, could be put under yet more pressure. Cuts have consequence, and nine years of underfunding our NHS has created this crisis.

“The plan to transfer patients to the Saxilby practice would mean that vulnerable patients would have to face an unacceptable journey length to access their GP.

Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

“Many patients struggle with mobility issues due to age or illness, as well as others who may not be able to afford to travel by public transport.

“I am also concerned that alternative local health centres will not be able to cope with the extra demand that would be created by this closure.

“Lincolnshire West CCG is required to conduct a consultation before a final decision is made. But the people of Lincoln have been here before. The Walk-in Centre on Monk’s Road shut last year despite 94% of consultation respondents being opposed to the closure.”

Karen Lee has a meeting set up with the CCG in the coming weeks. She is also holding a drop-in surgery on Saturday, June 15 at the Skellingthorpe Youth Centre between 10am and 1pm.

The Saxilby practice. Photo: Google Maps

The Lincolnite contacted the Lincolnshire West CCG several times, but they were unable to comment at this time.

A doctor who has worked as a partner at the Glebe Practice for around 25 years previously said that they want to continue to deliver a high quality service.

Doctor Catherine Ash said: “I am as passionate as ever about continuing to deliver high quality care and services to our patients.

“Given the difficulties we face, myself and Dr Gopee believe it is important we look to make the changes so that we as a practice are able to continue to deliver the level of service we aspire to.

“We hope patients will be happy to continue to be part of our practice whatever the outcome of the consultation process.”