GP surgery in Norfolk to close despite opposition

A GP surgery rated as "good" by the Care Quality Commission is to close in 2025 despite public opposition to the move.

Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) said Toftwood Medical Centre, near Dereham, was too small for the population it served, and upgrading it would be too expensive.

The decision was confirmed at a meeting of the ICB's primary care commissioning committee on Tuesday.

It followed a public consultation in which patients at Toftwood and other Dereham surgeries raised concerns about capacity.

The 4,000 registered patients will transfer to the neighbouring Orchard and Theatre Royal surgeries on 1 April 2025.

A consultation into the plans raised concerns over whether those surgeries would be able to cope with the increased demand.

Almost 2,000 people gave their feedback, with more than 1,400 of them expressing concerns over the impact that the closure would have on care, including access to appointments and waiting times.

At a public meeting in November, attended by more than 150 people, patients praised the care they had received at Toftwood Medical Centre.

The move has also been opposed by the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which previously said it would ask the government to intervene if the closure was confirmed.

Hopes had been raised that a new lease for the building could be agreed after local MP George Freeman stepped in to mediate between the landlord and the ICB.

But Sadie Parker, director of primary care for NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said not enough progress was made to withdraw the plan to close the medical centre.

She told the meeting, which approved the plan, that relocating patients would "ensure no one is left without GP services".

The lease of the building expired in 2010 and there have been short-term leases since then, but efforts to agree a new long-term agreement have been unsuccessful.

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