Birtle View Medical Centre facing closure

Birtle View Medical Centre in Heywood could be facing closure.

The centre, which is located on George Street, is entering into a patient consultation period starting Monday 12 October to assess and review the service.

It is understood that the centre has started a petition to try and stop any possible closure going ahead.

Laura Browse, Head of Primary Care for NHS England, Greater Manchester said: “Birtle View Medical Centre is an Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracted medical practice, and all APMS contracts are for a fixed term.

“Therefore, they will be undertaking a four week patient consultation commencing Monday 12 October as part of the local health needs assessment and review of services. This review is jointly run by NHS England and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group and will help determine the future requirements of the local patient population.

“We would like to take this opportunity to clarify no decision regarding the future of Birtle View Medical Centre has been made.”

Dr Chris Duffy, Chairman of HMR CCG said: “The CCG’s vision is to commission high quality health care services and enable the population to live longer, healthier lives. This is supported through the co-commissioning agenda, five year plan and work being led by NHS England. The CCG has a variety of strategic programmes to deliver this vision.

“In supporting greater consistency, fairness in access and provisions for patients, with an end to unjustifiable variations in services, HMR CCG has concluded that NHS resources are better used by dispersing the registered population, ensuring all patients can access similar, equitable services. Whilst considering patient comments ensuring choice remains and equity of funding dispersal is also supported by the wider stakeholders.”

Patients registered at the practice will shortly receive a letter and survey explaining the proposed approach and inviting them to a meeting at the practice on Monday 19 October at 6.30pm.