Report lists struggling NHS and staff isolation among reasons to close Suffolk village GP surgery
The council’s report says the surgery is unviable
A run-down building, struggling NHS finances and staff isolation are among the reasons to close a GP surgery in a Suffolk village, a report has said.
On Wednesday morning, members of the county council’s health scrutiny committee are due to discuss the potential closure of Boxford Mill Surgery, in Church Street, Hadleigh.
The council’s report says the surgery, which is part of the Hadleigh Boxford Practice Group, is unviable, with its building being run down and requiring significant investment to make it fit for purpose.
It reads: “The Hadleigh Boxford Practice Group considers the existing Boxford branch building is no longer fit for purpose and does not meet the standards of a modern GP practice.
“This decision is reinforced by the current challenging financial climate and the increasing costs needed from a reduced NHS budget, to finance two practices.”
The surgery runs four morning sessions every week with a single GP — approving closure would mean moving the sessions, alongside the blood clinic and dispensing service, to the group’s Hadleigh surgery, in Market Place.
According to the report, clinical staff are reporting feeling increasingly vulnerable while working in isolation.
There have even been incidents when a clinician has had to rush to the Boxford surgery, leaving a full clinic in Hadleigh, to support a GP who was administering oxygen while waiting for an ambulance.
The closure would impact 1,488 residents in Boxford alone and up to 16,156 when including Hadleigh and surrounding villages.
During the engagement process, residents raised concerns about bus access to Hadleigh.
Addressing this, the group pointed out many residents were already using services in Hadleigh, but said it was working to improve transport links to the town.
Following Wednesday’s discussion, the practice will submit its closure application to the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) for a final decision.