Fears For Future Of Wimbledon Surgery
Funding changes threaten GPs' practice
Fears that a popular Wimbledon doctors' surgery could close because of funding changes led to hundreds of patients packing a meeting on Monday (February 20).
Changes in the GPs' funding regime means Vineyard Hill Road Surgery in Wimbledon Park could close in 2013, the meeting was told.
Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust (PCT) is changing the formula it uses to work out the spending for each surgery in its area.
Around 200 patients and residents joined councillors and Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond (left) in the Church Hall of Christ King in Arthur Road, with many suggesting a campaign against the changes.
Conservative Councillor Oonagh Moulton, herself a patient of the surgery, said: "The swift action of doctors at this surgery has saved the lives of members of my own family.
"I have written to the Managing Director of Sutton and Merton PCT and will do everything possible to save our local surgery and its services from these mad cuts and closure. It really is devastating news for our community."
It is also claimed that further changes by the PCT will see a "huge" reduction in the number of appointments available from this April.
Long-standing local patient Linda Taylor added: "We are starting a patient action group which I will be actively supporting. The PCT has a legal duty to listen to its patients and we will ensure it does."
An NHS South West London spokesperson said: "NHS South West London is responsible for commissioning high quality care for all patients across South West London; reducing variation in service provision and addressing health inequalities.
"We are currently reviewing primary medical contracts with all practices in Sutton and Merton in order to provide equal access to primary care and we will ensure that no practice is disadvantaged during this process."
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February 22, 2012