PATIENTS are to be consulted at a meeting next month over controversial plans to re-locate their GPs' surgery.

Unity Health proposes to shut its surgeries in Hull Road and on the University of York's old campus and move patients and doctors to a brand new surgery on land next to the university's new Heslington East campus.

York Press:

The proposed new surgery

But Osbaldwick and Derwent councillor Mark Warters has raised concerns about the problems some patients, particularly the elderly, may face in getting across the busy Hull Road to the new surgery.

"It will be very difficult for elderly patients from Osbaldwick and Murton to access the new surgery on foot and there are no plans to divert any bus services to the new surgery site," he said.

He accepted the new surgery might be more convenient and offer better facilities for student patients and residents in Heslington and Badger Hill.

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The Hull Road surgery earmarked for closure

He said it would be preferable for residents in his ward to continue using the Hull Road surgery and believed the NHS commissioning organisation, the Vale of York CCG, should look at the matter as a special case for funding its continuation, adding that part of the building could be used to provide other services for the elderly.

Louise Johnston, managing partner at Unity Health, said local residents were being invited to a meeting to be held between 1.30 and 2.30pm on Friday April 15 at St Thomas' Church, Osbaldwick, at which they could give their views. She said a representative from the CCG would be attending to hear what patients had to say.

She said the new surgery, called Unity Health Kimberlow Hill Surgery, would provide considerably better facilities, with well integrated services and 16 consulting rooms compared with only two viable rooms at the 'cramped' Hull Road surgery and five at the existing university surgery.

"Staff at both surgeries are very excited about moving but are aware of patients' anxieties as the site is a short walk from the existing surgeries," she said. "We intend to work with patient groups to overcome the anxieties and are looking for solutions, such as patient transport."

Meanwhile, Cllr Paul Doughty, chair of City of York Council's Health Scrutiny Committee, has agreed to a request by Cllr Warters for it to look into the matter with urgency.

Cllr Doughty said the plans were a significant service change and he would expect Unity Health to attend the scrutiny committee to explain its proposals and answer questions from members.