Woodingdean councillors seek reassurances over GP surgery

Woodingdean Ward Councillors Dee Simson and Steve Bell have written to the Chief Executive of the Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) seeking reassurances over the closure of the Ridgeway GP Surgery in their ward.

The Surgery is due to close on October 31 with the retirement of the owners of the Surgery – GPs Jeremy Baker and Dodie Fahmy.

Cllr. Bell said: “As a patient of the Ridgeway Surgery myself, I know that this news will bring unwelcome uncertainty, in particular for many elderly and vulnerable residents in the ward. We are seeking reassurances from the CCG that these residents will be looked after in an appropriate way during the transition to a new surgery and that they are not caused additional unnecessary stress.”

Cllr. Simson added: “We are keen to ensure that medical practices are given all the financial and staffing resources necessary to take on the 2,000 additional patients from the Ridgeway and that this can be accommodated without negatively impacting on those surgery’s existing patients. It would not be acceptable if this process leads to increased waiting times for patients seeking appointments with their GP.”