NHS chiefs are being urged to delay the closure of a Yorkshire Dales GP practice to allow more time for a new operator to be found.
The NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has announced that Reeth Medical Centre will close at the end of May following the retirement of current partners Dr Mike Brookes and practice manager Marie Brookes.
Concern is growing about the impact the closure will have on around 1,600 patients registered at the centre.
The ICB says the patients would be transferred to neighbouring practices in Hawes and Aysgarth, as well as Leyburn and Richmond.
But patient group Healthwatch North Yorkshire this week questioned this plan.
Ashley Green, chief executive, said: “On paper, being registered with another GP practice sounds straightforward. But for many people, it’s not that simple. If you’re older, living with a long term condition, or don’t drive, travelling further for appointments can quickly become a real barrier, particularly in a rural area like North Yorkshire.
“People have told us the announcement felt sudden, and that they have questions about what will happen next and what it means for them.
“This isn’t just about where people are registered. It’s about whether they can realistically get to appointments, pick up medication, and get the help they need when they need it.”
Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak announced earlier this week that he had been in contact with two organisations interested in taking on the centre.
Next week, the future of the centre is due to be discussed by North Yorkshire Council’s care and independence scrutiny committee, with the authority’s health scrutiny committee also being urged to intervene and make a formal request to the ICB for a delay while alternatives are assessed.
Chair of the care scrutiny committee, Councillor Barbara Brodigan said: “Local residents who are directly impacted by what happens with Reeth Medical Centre have submitted public statements and I want to hear what they have to say.
“I have asked the ICB to attend the meeting and answer questions about the process so far.
“Our role as a scrutiny committee is to look carefully at the decisions being made and ensure proper safeguards are in place for older and vulnerable residents who rely most on local primary care.
“Given the new interest now emerging from potential providers, it is important that the ICB considers putting interim arrangements in place to allow time for a sustainable solution to be secured.”
Reeth resident Richard Good, president of the Richmond and Northallerton Liberal Democrats, added: “We are delighted to hear the latest news that there are now interested parties coming forward to take on the practice. It is encouraging that now the issue is out in the open, people are stepping forward with potential solutions, and we hope that as awareness grows further options will emerge.
“In light of this, we are calling on the ICB to stop the clock on the proposed closure. The focus should now be on putting interim arrangements in place to buy the time needed to secure the right deal for Dales patients.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the ICB to respond to the concerns.
A spokesperson highlighted an updated statement on the organisation’s website.
In the statement, the ICB says GP practices operate as independent contractors to the NHS.
“In this case, the practice partners chose to bring their contractual arrangement to an end. The ICB does not have the legal power to require a practice to remain open, nor can it compel another provider to take over the contract,” it added.
The ICB says it has explored “many options” to secure another provider to take on the Reeth Medical Centre contract or deliver services locally.
It added: “But as is the case nationally, recruiting to small, remote rural practices is incredibly challenging and no provider came forward able to safely and sustainably take on the contract.
“Key issues relating specifically to the Reeth practice include its small ‘list’ size (c1,600 patients), with high fixed running costs, no available GP workforce once Dr and Mrs Brookes have stepped away, and professional isolation that comes with running a very rural practice.”
The full statement and answers to frequently asked questions are available here: https://humberandnorthyorkshire.org.uk/reeth-medical-centre-closure-questions-and-answers/
