EXCLUSIVE: Patients unhappy about medical centre merger

A DOCTORS’ surgery in Swinton is set to close – with patients being moved to a revamped practice one mile away, reports Brian Cruickshank.

The Victoria Medical Centre in Manchester Road (above) will shut on April 1.

Patients are being transferred to the Poplars practice, which is being extended.

Doctors have defended the decision, claiming the doomed Victoria building is “no longer fit for purpose.”

But patients have told Quays News they are unhappy about moving to Poplars, which scored poorly in the most recent nationwide NHS patient satisfaction review.

The poor score was related to how long patients have to wait to get an appointment.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “Well I don’t like it; it’s already bad enough as it is.

“When you’re not well you like to get it on the day, or the day after, but you can’t.”

Another Victoria patient added: “We’re not happy. The doctor here is great, the reception staff are great and the appointment system is great. But it’s the building. There is nothing we can do about it, but we’re not happy.”

A doctor will move to Poplars (above left) along with six medical staff, including two nurses from the Victoria practice.

Two additional phone lines will be installed, as well as an increase in downstairs seating from 33 to 57, and upstairs seating from 8 to 18.

Dr Colin Brunt, one of the Poplars medical centre partners, who has worked there since 2000, said: “Patient demand is always difficult to satisfy.

“We are very mindful of certain pre-requisites that practices in the country are expected to satisfy in terms of appointment delivery.”

He added that the Poplars practice “was built for purpose 10 years ago, with one eye on delivering care services to a greater capacity.”