Temporary Whitchurch clinic will not be in supermarket car park
A temporary doctors' surgery serving thousands of patients in a town will not be based in a supermarket car park, health bosses have confirmed.
Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group has moved to reassure people in Whitchurch that it will not set up a replacement for the town's Richmond House Surgery in the Sainsbury's car park off London Road.
It has also said patients will still have access to a GP when Richmond House closes next month. But health chiefs have not yet confirmed where any temporary surgery, which is expected to run for 18 months, will be based once the lease runs out on Richmond House.
Patients have launched petitions in an attempt to keep the surgery in Station Road open and are planning a peaceful protest on September 24.
Christine Morris, director for primary care and quality at Shropshire CCG, said: "Shropshire CCG's priority is to provide a suitable GP service for patients currently registered with Richmond House surgery and we want to reassure them that they will still have access to a GP after the surgery closes.
"At this stage of the procurement process we cannot say where the exact location will be.
"However, we are aware of concerns that it will be on the car park of the town's Sainsbury's store. We are able to say that these concerns are unfounded and that location is not under consideration.
"We expect to be in a position to give more information about the caretaker service that will be offered for an initial 18-month period in October.
"The service will be in place by October 31.
"We will continue to work with local Patient Participation Groups to ensure that patients are kept as up-to-date as is possible during the tender process," she added.
