Campaigners joyous after decision to close local GP goes to review
Campaigners are celebrating their first taste of success after the closure of an Ilkeston GP practice and walk-in centre is referred to the county scrutiny committee.
The decision to close down the GP practice will now go under closer inspection after the MP for Erewash, Jessica Lee, confirmed that the plans will be reviewed.
A committee will question the reasons why a decision has been made to shut down the practice.
The site based at the town's community hospital has more than 1,500 registered patients, but health trust NHS Derbyshire County said the decision to close it had been made by "mutual consent". The trust say it was to reduce a duplication of services but campaign group, Save Ilkeston GP, claim there are no other GPs in the area that provides this service.
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Save Ilkeston GP have staged a protest outside Cardinal Square, in Derby, the home of Derbyshire's NHS offices, to continue their fight.
The group has publicly criticised the closure of the family practice which will also see 14 employees lose their jobs.
Amanda Jackson, a spokesperson for the Save Ilkeston GP, said: "The decision has been widely applauded by patients, who feel that this is the first step in saving the centre.
"The scrutiny review will highlight the terrible way the closure has been managed by NHS Derbyshire.
"We hope we will get the answers we've been asking for because so far communication has just not been good enough."
Comments
by starlet199
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 8:40PM
“This has been a terrible decision. Myself and my family have used the walk in centre many times over the years. It is devastating to lose such a vital community resource.”