Village GP surgery to shut down next week - forcing patients to travel for treatment

Dragon Cottage Surgery in Holmer Green, which is a branch surgery of Chiltern House Medical Centre in High Wycombe, will close on September 7 because the building’s lease is ending.

It comes just one month after the future of both surgeries was plunged into doubt when the partnership that provided its services was dissolved.

Worried patients feared the surgeries would shut down - but healthcare chiefs insisted services would continue.

A spokesman for the NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said the closure is “unrelated” to the recent changes in management.

Raj Bajwa, Clinical Chair for NHS Buckinghamshire CCG, said: “It is always regrettable when a branch surgery closes, particularly with short notice, but on this occasion it was unavoidable for reasons beyond the control of the practice or the CCG.

“We would like to reassure all patients, however, that they will be able to access all their usual services at the Chiltern House Medical Centre in Temple End, High Wycombe, and that we will be working hard to understand how we can best serve the healthcare needs of Holmer Green residents in the future.”

All patients at both surgeries have been informed of the closure. Reacting to the news, resident John Martin said it was “very short notice”, adding: “Such a shame and what will the residents of Holmer Green do for a doctor?”

Patients a Dragon Cottage do not need to do anything as they will remain registered with Chiltern House Medical Centre at its main site and will be able to access all their usual GP services there instead.

NHS Buckinghamshire CCG said it will be reviewing the options for GP services available to patients in the Holmer Green area and, in due course, will be seeking the views of the local population so that it can “fully understand their needs and how best to address them”.

For more information, go to chilternhousemedicalcentre.co.uk or buckinghamshireccg.nhs.uk.