Patients reassured on troubled Bishop's Castle Medical Practice

Officials at Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) say they have come up with a scheme for the practice after concerns were raised about a long-running dispute between the surgery's doctors.

Dr Adrian Penney has been in dispute with his partners Dr Adrian Fairbanks and Dr Susan Lambert for almost two years.

The dispute has led to Dr Penney staying away from the surgery and patients have contacted the PCT asking them to intervene.

NHS bosses say they hope the doctors can settle the dispute and cannot interfere with the situation because it is a business matter between the partners.

However Liz Welsh, senior commissioning manager for primary care contracts with the PCT, said they had come up with measures to ensure patients are properly cared for should the practice on School House Lane suddenly close.

She said: "The PCT does not wish to see the practice close and is working closely with partners offering mediation and support.

"If for any reason the practice did close with little notice the PCT has a contingency plan in place which can be implemented quickly to ensure patients continue to receive GP services.

"In the unlikely event the practice was to close the PCT would be responsible for doctors begin located in the town the next day to see patients.

"In Bishop's Castle we would ask Shropdoc to lead an interim service which would give some continuity for patients who use the out of hours service.

"The existing surgery building may not be available to use as it is privately owned and that would be a decision for the owners.

"However, we do know that we can set up a surgery quickly with the Bishop's Castle Community Hospital to keep services local."

The dispute between the practice's three doctors goes back almost two years and will be settled at a hearing in the High Court although no date has been set and the dispute could continue for several more months.

By?Peter Finch