5,000 patients to move after GP clinic next Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital closes

The plans to close Malling Health Wrekin walk-in centre, based next to Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, were given the stamp of approval by health chiefs in February.

There were more than 7,000 patients on its books who were told they would have to transfer to another GP.

But only 2,300 patients have so far moved voluntarily, Telford & Wrekin Council's health and adult care scrutiny committee was told yesterday.

About 5,000 patients face being allocated a place at another GP practice if they do not move themselves by the end of July.

The issue was discussed by the committee during a meeting at Addenbrooke House following concerns raised by Wellington Town Council.

Nicky Wilde, deputy executive for primary care at Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning group (CCG), told councillors that there was still capacity for new patients at other GP practices in the borough.

She said: "2,300 patients have moved on a voluntary basis into new GP practices.

"Patients still have the opportunity to move themselves.

"When we looked at capacity we identified that all our practices were able to accept additional patients."

She said anyone who does not register with a new GP practice would be allocated a place somewhere.

But she added: "If they are not satisfied they have the choice to move."

Ms Wilde said the CCG was working on ways to improve access to GP services and added that all GP practices in Telford and Wrekin had now agreed to see patients of no fixed abode.

She also acknowledged concerns about Wellington Medical Practice but said there had been improvements and the CCG was monitoring the situation.

But Wellington town councillor Miles Hosken, who also addressed the meeting, said there was deep concern in the community about the imminent closure of Malling Health Wrekin walk-in centre.

He told the committee: "It's fundamentally wrong.

"The Malling could have been taken on in a new contract. "The Malling isn't falling down.

"The whole structure of the closure of it and the movement of people to other clinics in the area is overload.

"There's a great number of people in Telford that are very upset about it. They think it's absurd and so do I."

The CCG said an assessment of the Malling Health Wrekin walk-in centre found that the facility will be unable to adequately serve the future needs of the local population and the building is in poor condition.

Telford and Wrekin CCG's primary care committee approved the decision not to renew its contract.