THE practice which runs Emersons Green Medical Centre says it is “determined to reopen” the site, which has been closed for almost seven months.
Green Valleys Health also runs Leap Valley surgery in Downend and Abbotswood surgery in Yate. It insists it is offering “the exact same services” to patients from the other sites and has made improvements to its services in the meantime.
So far no date for reopening the medical centre, which shut in October after the heating and hot water system failed, has been fixed. The body responsible for funding NHS services in the region says it is “awaiting further clarity” from the practice about the timescale.
In January, Emersons Green ward councillors Katrina Al-Hassan and Rachael Hunt raised concerns over the closure and other issues with the practice’s services during a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny committee.
At the time Green Valleys Health said it was hoping to reopen the centre “in the near future”.
It has now given a more detailed update, saying: “The practice remains determined to reopen the Emersons Green site when vital work has been completed.
“The commitment to deliver this is considerable, involving suppliers and the Integrated Care Board.
“To engage patients and others, the practice leadership meets regularly with the Patient Participation Group.
“Local politicians were invited, and they attended the last meeting.
“At that discussion, details on why the surgery is closed were given – confirming that the problems are all building-related.
“With all staff working at other sites, the exact same services are being offered. Clinical teams work from either Leap Valley or Abbotswood – offering choice for patients.
“Acting on patient feedback, the practice has moved to a total triage system.
“Patients now submit their request for an appointment via e-consult, by phone, or in person.
“The same information is captured however patients get in touch.
“The details provided are reviewed by a clinician who recommends the most suitable appointment.”
Green Valleys Health said further improvements planned to improve services include:
• Enabling patients to book and take a blood test, if needed, before speaking with a clinician to improve the information when they meet the patient.
• Referring some patients to a local pharmacy for a review of symptoms and solutions, in line with NHS guidelines.
• Referring some patients to the practice’s two ‘first contact physiotherapists’, when appropriate, for treatment of back and joint pain without having to see a GP.
The practice declined to give more details on the timescale for reopening the medical centre, or a recent report that repairing it would cost a “six-figure sum”. It said it was in the process of making a funding application to NHS England.
A spokesperson for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is in charge of funding NHS services in the area, said: “We understand the challenges Green Valleys Health has faced in reopening Emersons Green Health Centre and have received concerns from local residents about the closure.
“It is the Practice’s responsibility to deliver services from Emersons Green and we are awaiting further clarity from them regarding steps being taken and timescales to re-open.”