Proposed GP surgery closure 'a disgrace'

Campaigners in Higham, Kent have started a petition to try to prevent their local GP surgery from closing.

Highparks Medical Practice operates four sites at Cliffe Woods, Cliffe, Higham and Wainscott.

It says it is making an application to close the site at Higham.

Charlotte Angell who started a petition against the proposed closure said: "No village should ever lose their GP practise, it is a disgrace and we will continue to fight as a community."

Ms Angell said "There is no direct public transport to another surgery within Highparks and a minimal service on the buses including a change-over in Strood.

"Cliffe Woods surgery will not cope with all of Higham patients attempting to be seen at their practise, what with the 800 new homes application that was submitted last week for Wainscott."

On its website Highparks Medical Practice said it needed to take steps to stabilise the practice's financial position to be sustainable, and therefore needed to close one of its branch sites.

"An independent assessment of all our sites was carried out," said the practice.

"Based on the findings, we have determined that the site closure with the least impact on our patients will be Hermitage Road, Higham.

"After careful consideration and over 18 months of in-depth discussions, we are making a formal application to close this branch."

Any application to close the Higham branch has to be made to the local integrated care board (ICB), NHS Kent and Medway.

The ICB has a responsibility to ensure primary care services are available and that any changes do not disadvantage local people.

The ICB has said it would follow its usual governance process if and when an application was received.

Highparks says it has launched a patient participation group "to ensure this information reaches as many people in the community as possible".

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