Hanway Road surgery in Buckland, to stay open for 'six months' if merger with Portsdown Group Practice is approved

Hanway Medical Practice proposed a merger with Portsdown Group Practice last year due to the retirement of GPs, with plans also including closing both surgeries in Hanway Road and Stubbington Avenue.

The closest surgery for Hanway’s 14,000 patients would be Kingston Crescent surgery in North End.

Jo York, director (new models of care) at the Portsmouth CCG told members of the Health Overview Scrutiny Panel yesterday that draft plans had been submitted from the medical practice and included closing Stubbington Avenue on May 1 but keeping the site in Hanway Road open for six months if the merger is approved.

Ms York said: ‘We have received a draft proposal from Hanway Medical Practice and Portsdown Group Practice in relation to both the merger and the closure of the two sites.

‘Our Primary Care team is reviewing that with them and then as is the usual process, it is back with the practice to make some changes and add more detailed information and then they will submit it early next week.

‘The proposal is to close Stubbington Avenue, should the merger be approved, from May 1 but the Hanway Road site, the intention is to keep that open for six months to allow some of the changes to take place within Kingston Crescent surgery.’

A petition, backed by Laly’s Pharmacy, against the closure of the Hanway Medical Practice was presented to Portsmouth City Council last month and was also mentioned by the panel.

Concerns were also raised by councillors about the communication of the merger and both Councillor Leo Madden and Councillor Lee Mason, both Portsdown Group patients, told the panel that they had not received texts from the surgery about the plans.

Cllr Madden said: 'I have not received a text and neither has my family.

‘It says there were public meetings held towards the end of February which I knew nothing about. I find it a bit strange since this is still not sure.’

Ms York said: ‘The decision to merge sits with each practice and they have proposed to merge. As part of that proposal they are required to engage with practice population to inform them of their intention and offer people a chance to understand the implications of that and hear concerns.’

The decisions on the merger and closures will be made at a committee meeting on March 26.

Hanway Medical Group has a patient list of 14,000 and the Portsdown Group Practice, which operates over multiple sites in the city, looks after 48,000 patients.