Minehead Medical Centre now under new management

Minehead’s only doctors’ surgery has been placed under new management as neighbouring practices put restrictions in place for new patients.

Minehead Medical Centre, on Irnham Road, closed to new appointments from midday on Tuesday (January 23) after being issued with a notice of suspension from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

NHS Somerset announced on Tuesday evening that One Medical Group, which runs medical facilities for the NHS in Aberdeen and the east of England.

As the new operator beds in, GP surgeries in the neighbouring towns and villages have temporarily stopped taking on new patients, on the advice of NHS Somerset.

Health bosses posted an update statement on Tuesday evening (January 23) on both the NHS Somerset and Minehead Medical Centre official websites.

A spokesman said: “From Wednesday, January 24, services at Minehead Medical Centre will be provided by One Medical Group.

“Patients do not need to do anything and should continue to access services at the surgery in the usual way. NHS Somerset is working at pace to make sure you can continue to access the care you need at the practice.

“We are committed to ensuring that patients in Somerset have access to safe and effective GP services and will continue to take action to ensure patients at Minehead Medical Centre receive the right care.

“We’d like to thank staff at the practice for their continued focus on delivering care to their patients.”

Any patients who already had appointments booked at Minehead Medical Centre will be contacted, with residents being advised not to call the practice to re-arrange or cancel appointments.

NHS Somerset chief medical officer Bernie Marden said: “Our focus is ensuring that patients at Minehead Medical Centre have access to safe and effective GP services.

“We apologise for the concern caused for patients while we were in the process of confirming a new provider.

“Over the coming days, patients may notice new faces in the practice, and we would ask you to be kind and patient with the staff who are working hard to provide the care you need.

“We are working closely with both the new provider and Minehead Medical Centre to ensure a smooth transition and we hope patients will experience little change to the services they receive.”

One Medical Group, which is based in Leeds, currently provides NHS services at the following sites:

• Great Western Medical Practice, Seafield Road, Aberdeen
• Whinhill Medical Practice, 20 Whinhill Road, Aberdeen
• Bracknell Urgent Care Centre, London Road, Bracknell
• Corby Urgent Care Centre, Cottingham Road, Corby
• Derby Urgent Treatment Centre, Entrance C, Osmaston Road, Derby
• The Light Surgery, Balcony Level, The Light, The Headrow, Leeds
• Shakespeare Medical Practice and Walk-In Centre, Burmantofts Health Centre, Cromwell Mount, Leeds
• Brooklands Health Centre, Montague Crescent, Broughton, Milton Keynes
• Neath Hill Health Centre, 1 Tower Crescent, Neath Hill, Milton Keynes
• Whitehouse Surgery, Whitehouse Health Centre, Dorset Way, Whitehouse, Milton Keynes
• St Nicolas Medical Centre, Windermere Avenue, Nuneaton
• Westgate Surgery, Westgate, Otley
• Sheffield Walk-In Centre, Rockingham House, Broad Lane, Sheffield
• St Neots Health Centre, 24 Moores Walk, St Neots

Following the CQC’s suspension order, other doctors’ surgeries in the former west Somerset area have temporarily stopped taking on new patients – preventing an exodus of people who would normally be treated in Minehead.

West Somerset Healthcare, which operates surgeries in Watchet and Williton, stated on its official Facebook page: “In line with advice from NHS Somerset, we have temporarily closed our list to new patient registrations requests.

“This list closure is in place for Dunster and Porlock Surgeries, West Somerset Healthcare and Exmoor Medical Centre. This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis with NHS Somerset.

“Please note we will continue to accept registration requests from patients who reside in our practice boundary who are not registered with a local GP practice yet.”

For more information on the changes, call the dedicated NHS Somerset helpline on 0300 303 6409 any time between 8:30am and 5pm.

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