Plans for Richmond’s Friary Hospital to house both the town’s GP surgeries are currently being discussed amid concerns about the future of the facility.
Under the proposal, the town’s Quaker Lane Surgery, which NHS bosses say is too small for the number of patients on its register, would join the Friary Surgery in being based at the community hospital.
Lisa Pope, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board’s (ICB) deputy place director for North Yorkshire, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service a plan had been prepared with the landlords of the Friary and other NHS bodies, and discussions were continuing with the two practices.
She added: “We absolutely intend to continue to provide primary care in Richmond town centre and the Friary is the best location to do that.”
Concerns have grown recently that the Friary’s Victoria Ward, which provides palliative care and rehabilitation after surgery, could face closure.
It emerged earlier this year that staff working in the ward had been told the unit could shut amid a current review by South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on providing more end-of-life care in a patient’s own home.
Ms Pope said the hospital trust was preparing a business case on the alternative model of care for the ICB to examine.
She said the ICB, as the commissioner of services, would need to be happy with the proposal before any changes were made.
She added: “The hospital trust is looking at a model of increased home from hospital, with people being able to be cared for at home, and end-of-life patients being able to die at home, if that’s the most clinically appropriate thing to do.
“In most places, you’d say that’s the right thing to do, but in the Dales less so because if you can’t go up to somebody six months of the year, or you haven’t got a 5G signal that you can’t get your phone, it means it’s more complicated in the rural area.”
The officer said any major changes to the Friary Hospital would need to go through a two-year public consultation exercise before being made changes, if the ICB approved the business case.
She added: “I’ve not seen a compelling business case that says we don’t need the ward.
“As it stands, our intention is that we co-locate the two practices in the Friary building and that we keep the ward until somebody gives us a compelling case not to.
“We continue to engage with all parties involved in healthcare in Richmond to find a positive future utilisation for the Friary.”
Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons said: “The joining together of the surgery on Quakers Lane with that based in the Friary Hospital has been talked about for years.
“It should be a good thing for Richmond and most importantly for patients. However, they will have to manage their car parking area better otherwise there will be nothing but people late for appointments.”
Cllr Parsons described the Victoria Ward as a “vital community asset”.
“It enables people from North Yorkshire to be cared for closer to home and it must remain as such,” he added.
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It’s a better idea than merging with Harewood on the garrison! Stuart Parsons is right, car parking must also be considered as there is not enough unless they remove the money making parking cameras from the Lidl car park!!
It would be a big mistake to close the Quakers Lane Surgery and it should not happen….it is a patient friendly practice with Staff and Doctors who really care about their patients. Every time I’ve had to attend the Friary I’ve had a really hard time finding somewhere to park…