Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois attended the public meeting last night at Wickford Community Centre, regarding the potential decision by NHS England not to renew the contract for GP services with the current South Essex Managed Care (SEMC) practice. Around 150 Wickford residents were present to hear a presentation from NHS England Officials on their plans to look after the 5,000 or so patients registered with SEMC, if their contract to provide GP services is not renewed.
Officials from NHS England explained to those present that SEMC had requested not to renew their contract, when it expires in January 2018. Fortunately, however, there are places for up to 3,000 patients each at two other surgeries in Wickford; firstly, the Applewood Surgery (based in the Wickford Health Centre) and the new London Road Surgery, based on the new premises on the Old Market Site. People were told that they could register with either of these practices, so that they can continue to have access to a Wickford based GP.
At the end of the meeting Mark addressed those present and explained that he had written to the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP about the issue and had also had meetings with senior officials from NHS England and from the Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to investigate the issue and to try and ensure that none of his constituents would be left without a GP, if and when SEMC hand back the contract in January.
Speaking about the meeting Mark Francois said:
“I know that this issue has been causing concern to a number of my constituents, since this was first raised with me by the chairman of the SEMC practice Patient Participation Group, Mr Ray Hilliard, at one of my regular constituency surgeries several weeks ago. I have since attempted to follow up on this with NHS England Officials to ensure that none of my constituents be left without a GP, if and when this decision goes through. I was pleased to be able to attend the meeting to hear the concerns of my constituents in person and I will continue to follow through on this issues as matters progress.”