Health chiefs searching for alternative site to Spalding's Pennygate health centre
Health bosses are promising they will try to find new GP surgery premises on the west side of Spalding to meet the needs of former Pennygate patients.
But residents are being warned it’s not going to happen “immediately”.
Most patients switched to a new GP service at Johnson Community Hospital when Dr Azmeena Nathu retired in September.
On Thursday, South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group was expected to back a three-year contract for a GP service at the hospital - with an option to renew for a further two years.
Hilary Daniels, who chairs the Primary Care Commissioning Committee, said: "Whilst I know many people wanted to see an immediate move to premises in the west of Spalding, this is not possible immediately but we will work with developers and others to identify a site/alternative premises over the next two years."
She accepted challenges with the Johnson GP centre need "resolving urgently" and these are:
* Public transport
* Parking
* Repeat prescriptions
MP Sir John Hayes said: "I am anxious to make sure that people in west Spalding are able to access high quality GP services when they need to, and I will continue to work with the CCG and local councillors to ensure this happens."
District councillor Angela Newton, an ex Pennygate patient, said: "I think it's as much as we could hope for - these things are not going to appear overnight."
Resident Peter Chapman, who also attended Pennygate, wants the CCG to draw up a costed plan, saying even if they start work now it will take three years to open a surgery.
The CCG must find a "longer-term" provider of GP services at the hospital as the current contract ends in September.
Ms Daniels said: "Crucially this (new) contract will allow us the flexibility in the future to look again at options in the west of Spalding when we know more about housing developments on this side of town."
