Hove MP Peter Kyle has urged health chiefs to ensure patients have quick access to a doctor after two surgeries were closed with immediate effect in his constituency this week.
Mr Kyle, the newly elected Labour MP for Hove, said that the first priority was patient safety.
He said that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had been so concerned about the risks to patients that it felt that the immediate closure of Goodwood Court Medical Centre was necessary.
Andy Watts, the senior partner at Goodwood Court, in Cromwell Road, Hove, had 28 days to appeal against the watchdog’s decision.
It came after an unannounced inspection, which started on Tuesday last week (4 June). The watchdog was so concerned that it went to court on Tuesday (9 June) to seek permission to cancel Goodwood Court’s registration, preventing the surgery from treating patients. The practice was closed the same day.
Mr Kyle said that, after taking any necessary steps to ensure patient safety, health chiefs had to arrange immediate alternative provision.
It would then be important to put in place a suitable long-term replacement although this may not be in Goodwood Court itself or at its branch surgery in nearby Eaton Gardens.
There are vacant premises in the vicinity, such as Lorna House, in Lorna Road, for example. And the Hyde housing association is about to build new offices and flats further along Cromwell Road, opposite the Charter Medical Centre.
Finally, Mr Kyle said, it was important to find out what had gone so badly wrong and what lessons could and should be learnt to prevent a repeat, he said.
Patients are currently being directed to the Brighton Station Health Centre, in Queen’s Road, Brighton, as a temporary measure.
NHS England has promised to put in place a new provider of GP (general practice) services as quickly as possible.
The CQC report, including details about the risks to patient safety, will not be published until the 28-day appeal period has elapsed.
