Calderbank’s GP surgery could close permanently with all services instead being concentrated at its partner practice three miles away.
The Main Street practice has been closed ever since lockdown was first imposed a year ago as it is too small to accommodate social distancing, with those patients needing face-to-face appointments instead being seen at Macinnes medical centre’s primary venue in Newarthill.
With the majority of appointments now taking place by phone or video, its medics say closing the branch surgery on the village’s Main Street would allow for “better service and patient safety [to be] maximised”.
Patients have received letters outlining the proposal during a six-week consultation which concludes next week, along with questionnaires asking for their views and whether they will remain with the practice or re-register with a new GP closer to home.
The communication notes that while the combined practice saw an increase of nearly 60 per cent in patient contact last year compared to 2019, “the number of Calderbank patients requiring face-to-face assessment has remained at a relatively low number per day”.
It adds: “It is regrettable but we feel unavoidable that we consult regarding the plan to permanently close the branch surgery.
“We understand how difficult it this to hear this plan as we know that travel to Newarthill may be very inconvenient and expensive for some and we are sorry this might be the case; we would therefore encourage you to approach the council with a view to improving the bus service.”
The practice’s four GPs told the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser: “The Calderbank branch has remained closed since the start of lockdown in March 2020, with all services centralised to our main surgery; the small size of the Calderbank building prevented adequate physical distancing and we are unable to guarantee patient safety as a result.
“Since lockdown we have adopted a triage model of assessment and increased our use of remote consultations – this means most people are now receiving the NHS care and advice they need from their own home to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and those patients who require a face-to-face appointment are allocated to Newarthill.
“This period of enforced change has given us the opportunity to re-evaluate our services and provide a more sustainable service and better patient care based at Newarthill.
“We would like to reassure patients affected by this that our desire to provide a high level of care is the main driving force and these changes are motivated by our ambition to enhance the service we provide.”
