Leyland's Station Surgery vacates "unsafe" building permanently to move to new location

A Leyland GP practice has closed one of its surgeries after the building was deemed unsafe for staff and patients.
Station Surgery in Golden Hill, Leyland said it has closed with immediate effect after "concerns" were identified with the building and its facilities. Pic: GoogleStation Surgery in Golden Hill, Leyland said it has closed with immediate effect after "concerns" were identified with the building and its facilities. Pic: Google
Station Surgery in Golden Hill, Leyland said it has closed with immediate effect after "concerns" were identified with the building and its facilities. Pic: Google

Station Surgery said it has closed its building in Golden Hill Lane with immediate effect and has moved its services to its other Leyland surgery in West Paddock.

It said the decision was made following a building inspection which found that the surgery was "unable to provide safe and effective healthcare".

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South Ribble and Chorley Clinical Care Commissioning Group (CCG), who oversee local health services, said there had been an "ongoing dispute" between the GP practice and its landlord.

All services have been relocated to Leyland Surgery, its sister site at the junction of West Paddock and Broadfield Drive, next to the council offices in Leyland. Pic: GoogleAll services have been relocated to Leyland Surgery, its sister site at the junction of West Paddock and Broadfield Drive, next to the council offices in Leyland. Pic: Google
All services have been relocated to Leyland Surgery, its sister site at the junction of West Paddock and Broadfield Drive, next to the council offices in Leyland. Pic: Google

It said the GP service had expressed concerns about the state of the building, which they considered "not fit for purpose". This led to the commissioning of a building inspection whose report, the GP practice says, concluded that the building is unsafe.

As a result of a "robust assessment", the GP practice said it has taken the decision to vacate the surgery with immediate effect. It says it is "actively seeking" a new site for its surgery, with a "number of potential options" being considered in nearby Farington.

It said "a suitable solution is being developed", with the CCG adding that the surgery is evaluating the potential of vacant land and existing premises for a new surgery.

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The Post was unable to reach Station Surgery to enquire about the specific issues which prompted the move from Golden Hill Lane.

It said patients will be informed about the closure by letter and all services have been relocated to Leyland Surgery, next to the council offices, in West Paddock.

A spokesman for Station Surgery said: "Following a robust external assessment, a number of concerns were identified with the building and its facilities.

"This means we are no longer able to provide safe and effective healthcare from this location. In the interim we are providing all services from Leyland Surgery.

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"Please be assured that we are working to secure a more viable long-term solution for the resumption of your services at Station Surgery

"We are very aware of how passionate the patients and staff are to have a surgery based in the Farington area and we are actively seeking suitable accommodation within this locality."

This is the full letter to patients

"We are writing to inform you that from 20 February 2021 in-practice services currently offered at our Station Surgery location will unfortunately no longer be available.

"Following a robust external assessment, a number of concerns were identified with the building and its facilities.

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"This means we are not able to provide safe and effective care and treatment from the Station Surgery location.

"An evaluation of a number of potential options has taken place, and whilst a suitable solution is being developed the practice will be using our other sites to ensure your care can continue as normal.

"All face-to-face services that would have taken place at Station Surgery will now be moved to one of our alternative local practice sites.

"These are The Leyland Surgery: Westfields, West Paddock, Leyland and The Surgery, Chorley: 32-34 St Thomas's Road, Chorley.

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"Please be assured that we are working to secure a more viable long-term solution for the resumption of your services at Station Surgery. Please also be assured that there will be no change to how you contact the practice or to the administrative and clinical staff providing your care.

"All other services currently being offered to you will continue unchanged. You do not have to do anything during this time and will continue to receive care when needed, in the most appropriate setting.

"We will continue to keep you informed as we progress the plans to resume services at an appropriate venue.

"If you have any queries about these temporary changes please contact the Practice on 01772 622505.

"Thank you for your continued understanding and support."

Who runs Station Surgery in Leyland?

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Dr George Ahad had run Station Surgery for more than 30 years but his sudden death in April 2019 put the future of the GP practice in doubt.

A new clinical team from Park View Surgery in Preston stepped in to maintain the services in Golden Hill Lane on a temporary basis whilst a long-term solution was arranged.

Following a procurement process run by the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which has responsibility for planning local GP services, the long-term future of Station Surgery was secured after GPs from Leyland Surgery were awarded the contract to take over the long-term running of services at the surgery.

The ‘official’ handover took place on August 1, 2020 and ensured Station Surgery would remain open at its site in Golden Hill Lane.

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Dr Gora Bangi, GP and senior partner at Leyland Surgery now provides the services at Station Surgery.

At the time of the takeover, he said: "We can’t wait to get started at Station Surgery and meet all of our new patients properly.

"We know how much the surgery means to local people which is why we are delighted to be able to expand our services and make it more accessible to patients in Leyland and the surrounding areas."

Dr Lindsey Dickinson, a local GP and Clinical Lead at NHS Chorley and South Ribble CCG, added: "We spoke to many patients who all told us how important the surgery was to them and so it was really important to us that we secured the long-term future of services at the surgery.

"I’m pleased we’ve been able to do that and I hope patients can now be reassured that they will continue to be able to access the local care they need from the surgery."

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