A GP surgery in East Sheen threatened with closure – and leaving almost two thousand patients out in the cold – has gathered support with a fast growing petition.
More than 300 people in just a week have signed to protect Deanhill surgery, scheduled to close on February 20 after the current contractor instructed NHS England to shut the practice.
If the practice is closed down then its 1,900 patients will be forced to find a new GP.
The surgery is considered an important service for the community’s elderly many of which have used the service for a number of years.
Conservative Councillor Robert Thompson who represents East Sheen said: “The decision has come as a great shock for a lot of people that rely on this service.
“It will also affect frail elderly people who may find it difficult to cope with the upheaval this will cause.”
Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith has been meeting concerned patients, doctors surgery staff and pharmacists in an attempted to find a way to keep the practice open.
“The process has been very badly handled by NHS England on almost every level,” said Mr Goldsmith.
“I can’t promise we will succeed, but I can promise we will do all we can to keep the surgery open.”
The decision to close the surgery was apparently taken by NHS England with no public consultation.
Patients were sent letters in the post informing of them of the closure on January 19 and told they had just a month to find a new GP.
If you wish to sign the petition it can be found at Dumlers Pharmacy, 495 to 497 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen.
Picture courtesy of Policy Exchange, with thanks
