GP Surgeries: Closures

(asked on 22nd February 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether clinical commissioning groups are required to consult patients before closing a GP surgery.


Answered by
 Portrait
David Mowat
This question was answered on 27th February 2017

There is no defined statutory requirement for a notice period to patients when a general practitioner surgery is to close.

NHS England’s guidance for commissioners, the Primary Medical Care Policy Book, suggests that between nine and 15 months prior to contract end, commissioners should undertake a needs and impact assessment and develop an engagement plan, and between two and 10 months before contract end, the commissioners should commence negotiation for the continuation of or procurement of an alternative Primary Medical Service provider, or the appropriate exit plan (including communication to patients).

Only at contract end would the patient list be dispersed, at which point patients would be notified and informed of their right to choose an alternative provider. Details of other local providers could be provided as part of this communication.

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