WORK could soon start to reopen Emersons Green Medical Centre – more than a year after it closed due to a heating and hot water failure.
Green Valleys Health, which runs the surgery, says it has been seeking quotes from contractors to carry out the work necessary to reopen it.
Members of South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny committee were told before their October meeting that work would start later that month or in November, and take six weeks – but was “subject to parts availability”.
The medical centre in St Luke’s Close, which has more than 11,000 patients on its books, shut suddenly on October 7 last year.
On a notice posted outside, patients were told the closure was temporary and “due to the heating and hot water not working”.
In February, Emersons Green ward councillors Katrina Al-Hassan and Rachael Hunt raised the issue at the scrutiny committee, sharing concerns that some patients were having difficulty accessing appointments at the practice’s other surgeries in Downend and Yate.
The Voice asked the practice for an update ahead of the closure anniversary.
A spokesperson said: “Green Valleys Health can confirm we have recently been working with local contractors to seek quotes for the required works.
“We are now in the process of looking for the relevant budget to fund this, with a view to re-opening the practice as soon as works are completed.
“Once again, we would like to sincerely apologise to our patients for the prolonged closure of Emersons Green practice.”
The spokesperson did not give a timescale but Green Valleys Health sent councillors an update saying: “The tender process has been completed, and we have short-listed three contractors.
“If all agree, work will start Oct/Nov and will take six weeks to complete but that is subject to parts availability.”
At the October scrutiny meeting, Cllr Al-Hassan highlighted that a year had passed since the closure.
No one from Green Valleys Health was present but a representative of NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is in charge of commissioning services, spoke.
Chief delivery officer David Jarrett said: “We do fully recognise the ongoing challenge with Emersons Green practice and we continue to work with them in resolving the issues.
“I know it was discussed here last time at length and I think, as everyone’s aware, it is the practice’s responsibility to deliver services from Emersons, including maintenance of the building.
“We in the ICB formally requested that the practice take quotes for works and that’s what they’ve referenced in their statement to you, and they’ve completed this.
“They are now in the process of securing the relevant budget to fund this, with a view to reopening the practice as soon as works are completed.
“We have asked for a comprehensive action plan from the practice and we’ve asked for that by the end of October, so we’ve put a definitive date of 31st of October for an update from the practice.”