A PROPOSED shake-up of GP surgeries in the district has prompted concern from patients.
Plans are in the pipeline which could see a new ‘super surgery’ created in Lillington as part of multi-million pound regeneration plans for the area.
It would involve the merger of Cubbington Road Surgery in Lillington, with Clarendon Lodge Medical Centre and Sherbourne Medical Centre, to create a single surgery in the Crown Way area. The surgeries say the merger would create an opportunity to offer more integrated health and social care, such as addiction support services.
But with the Clarendon and Sherbourne surgeries located on the doorstep of Leamington town centre, current patients of them would face a lengthy journey to Lillington.
One elderly long-time patient at Clarendon Lodge told The Observer: “I believe it’s just another case of cost-cutting. I really don’t believe the patients are the first priority.
“I live just a few minutes away from my surgery. Fortunately I don’t have to go there often, but when I do it’s no trouble.
“These plans would mean I would have to take a taxi. There’s no way I could walk to Lillington, and there will be plenty of other patients in the same boat.”
A report into healthcare has been drawn up by Warwick District Council.
Part of it reads: “In Lillington we are working with three GP surgeries to see if we can help set up a super surgery to better target an area of economic and social deprivation by using our land.”
Two surgeries in Warwick are also looking at merging.
South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group – which runs GP services – have not revealed the names of the two surgeries but said both currently operated from the same road.
In the town the only two practices on the same street are Priory and Cape Road surgeries, which are both on Cape Road where the new practice would also be built.
The savings from such mergers of GP practices is not clear, and it is not known if any jobs would be lost should they go ahead.
A CCG spokeswoman said: “Our intention is to deliver the best possible solution for all potentially affected patients.
“When the outcome of the discussions is known, the CCG and the practices will work with patients to ensure that they are fully informed and that they are able to share their opinions with the CCG and the practices.
“We are supporting discussion between two member practices in Warwick in relation to a potential merger and potential new build.
“We are aware that practices in Lillington are discussing their future options, but no firm or draft proposals have been shared with the CCG to date.”
