Long-standing surgery – which also hosts a food bank – to close after struggling to recruit enough doctors

A long-standing surgery is to close after struggling to recruit enough doctors to keep it running effectively.

Patients at York House, in Heywood, will now have to go to Argyle Street Medical Centre – after health officials agreed for services to be ‘consolidated’ at the one site.

Both surgeries have been run by the same group – Heywood Health – since 2016.

But the York Street practice – which also hosts a food bank – has found it difficult to attract permanent GPs after three retired and one left for personal reasons.

With other staff absent on sick and bereavement leave, it has had to bring in locum doctors – who do not have the same responsibilities as salaried GPs.

Meanwhile another doctor at the surgery is soon to go off on maternity leave.

The continuing staffing issues were in danger of jeopardising Heywood Health’s ability to deliver medical services and meet its contractual obligations.

The group’s request to operate solely from its Argyle Street practice has now been signed off by Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG) – coming into effect from the beginning of April.

Practice manager Pam Ilnyckyj said the closure of York House was ‘heartbreaking’ but one that was a result of the national shortage of doctors, which she described as ‘a crisis’.

However, she says the decision to operate from one site has been made to ensure patients continue to receive ‘high-quality healthcare’.

Ms Ilnyckyj added: “As many of our patients will know, for some time, the practice has been having trouble in managing and sustaining two sites for Heywood Health. 

“All our patients deserve a high-quality healthcare service but because of clinical staff issues, we are unable to sustain the services at two sites.  

“That’s why we made a request to Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG to consider an application to transfer all our services to Argyle Street Medical Centre and close the York House Surgery site.

“Following a period of consultation with patients and stakeholders, this proposal has been approved and Heywood Health will close its York House Surgery site at the end of March.

“The practice is more than willing to carry on listening to the views of patients and we hope that they will continue to choose Heywood Health for their health care for years to come.”

However, the closure of York House means that Heywood Foodbank needs to find a new home as soon as possible.

Liam Killough, from the food bank, said he was concerned for the families who rely on it but that he had no issue with Heywood Health’s decision.

He said: “The people at the surgery have been very kind to us; obviously there are bigger issues. 

“They kept us informed throughout the process and the upshot is we are starting to look for new premises.”

He continued: “We provide food to 150 families per week over two sessions, the majority of these are family units so the numbers are in excess of 200.

“Any disruption is going to materially affect all those families.

“There’s no bad feeling between ourselves and the surgery; it is what it is. We are meeting every week now and assessing the situation – we are looking for a very local benefactor.”

Heywood Foodbank had been operating from the site for around 18 months, after one of the GPs offered the use of the basement. It was originally started at St Joseph’s Church by the Saint Vincent de Paul Society around seven years ago.

The group, which has several volunteers, is now looking for a new home, ideally in the centre of Heywood, so it can continue to provide for those in need.

It runs sessions between 10am and 12 noon on Mondays and Fridays.

A spokesman for HMR CCG said: “All patients registered at Heywood Health will be able to access the Argyle Street Medical Centre site where they will receive the same high-quality care. 

“In order to ensure that as many patients as possible become aware of this change, it was agreed that the York House site would remain open to signpost patients and offer information up to March 31.”

If you can help the Heywood Foodbank find a new home, please contact Liam on:

• 07396 071 193

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Additional reporting: Rochdale Online