Local patients at Glenlyn Medical Centre have been in touch with me to express their concerns following the announcement of about GP redundancies at the surgery. So, this morning, I went to speak with Practice Manager, Joseph Todd, Business Manager, Heather Chatwin, alongside Dr Strickland and Dr Kapoor to raise residents’ concerns with the practice.
In particular, I raised concerns about the difficulty in securing GP appointments, sought reassurances on GP to patient ratios, and asked about arrangements for patients with particular vulnerabilities or complex conditions. I also expressed concern about the lack of consultation, elevated anxiety levels amongst the local community. I asked the team at Glenlyn to provide data on the number of available GP appointments, patients per GP and the increase in the level of patients being seen as a result of changes at Glenlyn. I will provide these updates as and when I hear more, and encouraged the practice to improve their direct communication with patients.
Further to this, I will be writing to Healthwatch – an independent body responsible for listening to local communities and holding GP surgeries to account – to reinforce the case for them to visit Glenlyn Medical Centre, assess the developments and provide independent assurance and confidence in the services now being provided to patients. I understand Glenlyn have already indicated they would welcome this. I will also raise these concerns with Surrey Heartlands and ask for a concerted, joined-up, effort to help resolve the issues at Glenlyn and better communicate the vision and plan for patient care, in order to give residents in Molesey greater confidence in their local GP practice.
If you are a patient at Glenlyn and would like me to raise any issues you may be having, please write to me at dominic.raab.mp@parliament.uk.