Over fifty per cent of Lancashire GP surgeries ‘at risk of closure’

More than half of GP surgeries in Lancashire say they could close within two years due to budget pressures.

According to a new survey, seven of the region’s practices consider themselves to be under “immediate” threat of closing down and a further 94 surgeries fear they will close in the next 18 to 24 months.

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it recognised the “significant” pressures faced by GPs.

The survey, part of a report published by the Consortium of Lancashire and Cumbria Local Medical Committees (LMCs) found that Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, East Lancashire and Morecambe Bay all have surgeries that class themselves as at immediate risk of closure.

Dr Adam Janjua, chief executive officer of the LMCs, said that he had “never seen the situation as dire as it is now” and warned that if the situation continued, people could lose access to their GP surgeries completely.

The report suggests that the pressure posed by increasing costs, including wages, comes alongside the strain caused by GPs having to shoulder some of the burdens on the broader health and care system.

Dr Janjua said “We need to be realistic about the fact that general practice is being asked to do so much more than it did five years ago.”

Craig Harris, chief operating officer for the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said he was “particularly concerned” that some practices felt they were under immediate threat and that the board would “continue to work closely with our LMC colleagues to carefully consider and discuss the concerns raised.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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