I am continuing the fight to stop the proposed closure of the 346 Rayleigh Road branch of the Eastwood Group Practice.
When the plans were revealed last week, I immediately went to work, contacting the head of the Eastwood Group Practice, as well as the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board to state my concerns.
Since then, I've continued working hard, including over the Bank Holiday weekend. I managed to secure both a meeting with the ICB - Integrated Care Board - and their attendance at the upcoming “open meeting” that has been advertised for the 6th April at the Kent Elms Branch at 10:30am.
As well as contacting the surgery, I visited the branch at 346 Rayleigh Road to speak to staff and residents about the plan, many of whom were opposed to the ideas. The GP branch promised to respond in full to my concerns as soon as possible.
I've been working alongside Verina Weaver, the Conservative Candidate for Eastwood Park ward, who has also been vocal in her opposition to the plans, calling them “dreadful”. Ms Weaver has also set up an online petition for local residents to sign. She hopes this will show the strength of feeling on the matter and hopes as many residents as possible will sign.
The petition can be found online at: https://www.change.org/p/prevent-the-closure-of-eastwood-practice-surge…;
Whilst having a hugely detrimental effect on the residents it serves, the branch closing would also be bad news for the nearby Osbon Pharmacy, who are located just a few doors away from the 346 Rayleigh Road Branch. I visited them with Verina Weaver and asked what they thought of the proposal.
One of the pharmacy employees, Jill Duffield told us it should not close because of the elderly population and poor transport links to the other branches. Ms Duffield said many patients had spoken to her about the proposed changes and they were all “distressed…wound up and anxious”. When I asked if she thought it needed to close, Ms Duffield said no and claimed, “they have been managing okay before so why is it all of a sudden a problem?”
When visiting the surgery, Verina and I took the opportunity to speak to local residents. One such resident, Mr Ritchie (79) said the plans were “bang out of order” and he hopes they don’t happen.
The proposed plans to close the 346 Rayleigh Road Branch of the Eastwood Group Practice are incredibly concerning. I have written to the surgery to demand an urgent meeting and am seeking urgent clarification on a number of matters, such as the timing of the announcement and communication process around it.
As the MP for Southend West, one of my key priorities has been healthcare, I have been a vocal champion for our hospital and have been working hard locally and in Westminster to ensure we have what we need.
It goes without saying we need to be increasing, not decreasing, access to GP appointments. So, as a matter of principle, I would be strongly opposed to any reduction in the number of GP appointments easily and conveniently available to Eastwood residents.
