Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak has urged health chiefs to reconsider plans that could see a rural GP surgery close, warning of the impact on communities across the Dales.
Mr Sunak has called on the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) to “re-double its efforts” to secure the future of Reeth Medical Centre.
The practice is due to shut at the end of May when long-serving GP Dr Mike Brookes and his wife Marie, the practice manager, retire after unsuccessful attempts to recruit a replacement.
While acknowledging the challenges of rural recruitment, Mr Sunak said he believed it should still be possible to find someone to take on the NHS contract.
“The ICB does not seem to appreciate what is at stake for local people,” he said.
“While I appreciate there are challenges to finding someone to take on the practice at Reeth, it is very difficult to believe there isn’t a GP in the UK who would find the role attractive.
“What is clear to me from the last 48 hours is the overwhelming level of community support for finding a solution and I think the ICB should be tapping into that to help find that solution.”
The surgery serves around 1,600 patients across Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. If it closes, patients are expected to be transferred to practices in Hawes, Aysgarth, Leyburn and Richmond.
Mr Sunak warned the closure would be particularly difficult for elderly residents and could place additional strain on neighbouring GP services.
Reeth resident Richard Good, president of the Richmond and Northallerton Liberal Democrats, said the community welcomed Mr Sunak’s intervention.
“We are delighted to hear that Mr Sunak has changed tack and realised exactly how much this means to residents of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale,” he said.
“Now we are on the same page we need to work together to make the ICB realise that the closure of these essential services would be a body blow for this area. Relocating patients elsewhere in Richmondshire solves nothing – it simply shifts the problem rather than solve it.”
Mr Sunak has written to the ICB outlining his concerns but says he has yet to receive a formal response.
Comments are closed.
I worked as a practice nurse at Reeth surgery for 18 years and will be very sorry if it has to close. I was there when it was first built and helped the previous Dr build up the services that are so crucial for a rural community.
After following this story and the traumatic impact that this is causing to the amazing people of Reeth and surrounding communities and will if this fantastic surgery does sadly close, I find it hard that nobody has left any comments on the impact it will have on them.
I was born and brought up in that area and was a patient at Reeth surgery and fully understand the impact that it will have if it does close.
I pray that a solution can be found.