CROWN Heights Medical Centre, in Great Binfields Road, has been given the go ahead to close its Lychpit branch surgery and relocate.

Following a public consultation, the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) decided to move the services into the Old Basing Health Centre, in Manor Lane.

As was previously reported in The Gazette in November 2017, GPs at the surgery had to make the decision as for what to do with the premises, as it was deemed not to be up to modern healthcare standards.

After taking into account the public feedback, the NHS England (Wessex) and North Hampshire CCG agreed in December 2017 to the close the Lychpit branch surgery and relocate to Old Basing.

The relocation will be taking place by the end of June 2018. The practice is assuring patients that there will not be a break in providing GP services while the move takes place. Once the move is complete, patients will have the choice of either see their doctor or nurse at Old Basing Health Centre or Crown Heights Medical Centre, in Alencon Link.

One of the options considered was closing the Lychpit branch and referring all patients to the Crown Heights Medical Centre in Basingstoke town centre. However, GPs felt that this was not the best move for patients and searched for alternative premises, arriving at the Old Basing Health Centre. They have now negotiated the use of some of the consulting rooms and treatment rooms at the purpose-built centre.

Dr Sam Hullah, GP at Crown Heights Medical Centre, said: “Relocating our Lychpit branch surgery was not an easy decision to make but there were very few options open to us. The premises were not adequate especially with regard to infection protection and control. Old Basing Health Centre is a modern, well equipped surgery where we can offer our patients a first-class service”.

During November and December 2017, Lychpit patients were asked to give their feedback on the proposed relocation. 94.4 per cent of respondents said that they understood why the GPs were looking to move.

Further information for patients is available to view on the practice’s website, crownheightsmedicalcentre.co.uk, and in paper at the surgeries.