Among other items discussed at the meeting was the subject of the closure of Locks Road Surgery.   In short Dr Stuart Ward, the Medical Director of the Primary Care Trust outlined the responsibility of the NHS Trust to provide medical care to an ever-increasing population who are generally living longer than in the past, but stressed that they do not have the power to prescribe where exactly the practices should be.   The PCT commissioned a survey about our local medical practices which concluded that the Locks Road Surgery is so out of date with current standards that the only solution before opening with new doctors would be to knock it down and rebuild - obviously a very expensive option .   Lockswood Surgery is currently nearly full and there is no room for the building to be enlarged.   However, Brook Lane Surgery could be enlarged by adding another floor.  

 

Also at the meeting was Martin Cox the Hampshire LINk representative.  'Hampshire Local Involvement Network is an organisation whose role is to find out what people like and dislike about local health and social care services and work with the people who plan and run them to help make them better.'   (Visit www.hampshire-link.co.uk for further details)    They are currently conducting a consultation about Locks Road Surgery and have listed three alternatives:  'Allow Locks Road branch to close and the patients to chose either to move to Whiteley or register with another local practice who provide services to the patient's address and is open to new registrations', or 'Allow Locks Road branch to close and extend Brook Lane surgery to accommodate more patients from a wider area', or 'To establish a GP service in Fareham Community Hospital'.   Any comments can be passed to LINk either on line (www.surveymonkey.com/s/gpservices) or by contacting their office (email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or telephone 01489 611675) or by attending one of their drop in events which are to held as follows:  Friday, 4 November 10am - 4pm at Fareham Community Hospital, Sarisbury SO31 7DQ, or on Wednesday, 9 November 6pm - 8pm at the Bartholomew Room, Victory Hall, Warsash.  They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has tried to register with a local practice but has been told that they are full. 

 

As WRA is well aware there is a lot of local concern about the closure of Locks Road Surgery, much of which was expressed at the CATs meeting (at which all the local Councillors were present);  but the WRA would suggest that one of the best ways of having opinions heard is through the current consultation process through LINk.

 

The full Minutes of the CATs meeting will soon be available athttp://wwwfareham/farehamscommunity/communityaction/catswestward.aspx