Portsmouth Guildhall Walk GP surgery to close affecting more than 8,000 patients

The Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has confirmed the Guildhall Walk Healthcare Centre will shut in September this year due to ‘uncertainty’ over the building’s future.

It is currently planned the surgery’s 8,400 patients will be given the option to transfer to one of three practices including the Southsea Medical Centre, Somers Town Surgery - in the community hub - and the University Surgery, which is set to move to Commercial Road.

Jo York, the deputy chief of health and care at the Portsmouth CCG, said: ‘Services are expected to continue as normal at Guildhall Walk Healthcare Centre until the end of September 2021.

‘It is important that registered patients continue to use their local GP practice – there is no need to change and we ask patients to “do nothing” until they hear further from us.

‘This is obviously an unsettling time for the staff at the practice and we would ask that the team are allowed to focus on continuing their day-to-day role of keeping their practice running smoothly.’

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But Councillor Claire Udy, who represents the ward where the Guildhall Walk practice is located, had concerns following the closure of the Hanway Road surgery last year.

She said: 'This is the second doctors surgery in the ward to close in the past 18 months. In an area where we have higher levels of poverty and health issues, why do people seem intent in taking away our right to accessible health care.

'I hope the promises of new sites are true because the healthcare of patients in the ward is paramount especially after Covid-19.

'We're still reeling from the loss of Hanway Road and even the John Pounds dentists a few years ago. It feels like residents are being left to rot.'

Roger Batterbury, from Healthwatch Portsmouth, added: 'It is a worrying decision but the CCG has to make these difficult decisions from time to time.

'We will be part of the process and will keep talking to patients and the CCG along the way.'

The CCG will be writing to all patients to inform them of the decision and outline the next steps.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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