The concerns raised included:

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  Community Impact: Residents are concerned about the loss of essential services which will significantly affect elderly, disabled, or disadvantaged community members. The relocation of the GP surgery, pharmacy, and Post Office is seen by some as “sucking the heart out of the community”, potentially leading to reduced footfall affecting local businesses. This has led to sentiments of the village “closing down” as expressed by locals.

  
  
  
  


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  Reasons for Closure: The St Elizabeth’s Medical Centre, which runs the surgery, cited that the owner of the building is looking to sell the site as the reason for the proposed move to their main site two miles away. They believe this relocation will allow them to improve the quality of care provided to all patients.

  
  
  
  


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  Public and Local Government Response: There has been some engagement with local governance, where a resident attempted to seek help from Sir Peter Soulsby, the city mayor, but was referred to the local integrated care board (ICB) for further action, indicating limited local political influence over these commercial decisions.

  
  

  Rob Watson

  
  
  
  

  PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF DOCTORS SURGERY ON THE COMMON EVINGTON, LEICESTER.

  
  

  Wednesday 4th December 10.30am at Pilgrim Gardens, Grocot Road, Evington, Leicester LE5 6AL

  
  

   

  
  

   Following many residents contacting Cllr. Zuffar Haq about this closure and the loss of the Pharmacy in Evington Village, Cllr. Haq decided to call a Public Meeting to listen to their concerns. 

  
  

   

  
  

  Present:

  
  

  Concerned users of the surgery.  This was done as well as possible without a full list of patients using the surgery.  People were contacted through word of mouth, email, what’s app. groups and some leafletting.  A representative group of about 20 users came to the meeting.

  
  

   

  
  

  2 local councillors for Evington.  Cllr. Zuffar Haq (Chair) and Cllr. Deepak Bajaj

  
  

  2 representatives from MPs Shivani Raja (Leicester East) and from MP Shockat Adam (Leicester South).

  
  

  2 other councillors from Leicester City Council including Cllr. Sarah Russell, Deputy City Mayor for Social Care, Health and Community Safety.

  
  

  2 representatives from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB).  Rachna Vyas, Deputy Chief Executive ICB and Dr. Sulaxni Nainani GP Deputy Chief Medical Officer ICB

  
  

  2 community reporters from the Evington Echo, Rob Watson and Helen Pettman

  
  

  ITV and BBC both sent two reporters

  
  

  

  
  

  After about 10 minutes of the start of the meeting there were between 30 and 40 people present.

  
  

   

  
  

  Cllr. Haq asked residents to explain their concerns.

  
  

   

  
  

  More than one resident explained that with this Surgery Branch closed, they would need to travel to Netherhall (St. Elizabeth’s Medical Centre) which would involve catching two buses and up to  a two hour journey each way, even though the direct route in a car would be two and a half miles.  The Downing Drive surgery is about 1 mile away, and one bus ride from Evington, but residents explained that they had previously applied for this surgery and were told they weren’t in the catchment area, or that the surgery was full.  About five residents explained the medical conditions they had which made the change difficult.  A show of hands confirmed that residents were very happy with the services they had received at The Common branch surgery.

  
  

   

  
  

  Cllr. Zuffar Haq confirmed that he was there to represent the many elderly people who live in Evington, who were concerned about the loss of their surgery, many of whom live alone.  Other residents explained their concerns about getting repeat prescriptions and as a carer of a surgery user, getting on the bus with a wheelchair.

  
  

   

  
  

  Residents also said  that there was only a few days notice of closure and that this didn’t give them enough time to find alternative doctors.  Without a doctor and a pharmacy in Evington Village they felt abandoned.

  
  

   

  
  

  Rachna Vyas from the Integrated Care Board said that in March ’24, they received news that the building was to be sold.  In June ’24 they launched a consultation which notified all users that the surgery would be closed by the end of December.  This consultation was circulated extensively through email, text, notices in the surgery and to between 800 and 900 people.  The consultation finished in Oct. ’24, they said.  She said only 38 users had given a negative opinion about the closure.  She explained that the surgery was not fit for purpose with no fire escape.  She said many patients were going elsewhere.  Both ICB representatives went on to explain that the system was, in their opinion, changing for the better with ways to get repeat prescriptions without travelling, and teams of practitioners under one roof that could cater for the needs of patients more thoroughly and have longer opening times.  They appreciated that some patients in the room were struggling and would offer support so they could take advantage of new ways of working.  They would also look into patients being able to join nearer practices.  They emphasised the quality of expertise the teams could offer, assuring patients this was an improvement.  Practical support was offered to help patients register for a new doctor with more choice of appointment times.  They said they weren’t aware that the pharmacy in Evington Village had closed because they hadn’t received notification, but that there were 5 local pharmacies in the area.

  
  

   

  
  

  Cllr. Sarah Russell said that if this room at Pilgrim Gardens could be made available, then users could be invited to come and discuss their concerns and be given the help and support they needed to make the best of alternatives on offer.

  
  

   

  
  

  In response to this, the meeting and Chair made the following points:

  
  

   

  
  

  (Cllr. Haq)  I have visited Dr. Wood (who has retired and owns the building) and he says he is not in any hurry to sell the building.  Therefore the building has not been sold.    This can be put in writing by tomorrow.

  
  

   

  
  

  That this is a small branch service and compared with other small branch services in the City the building is in reasonable condition.  It has served patients well as a local doctors’ surgery for over 60 years.

  
  

   

  
  

  That although the Integrated Care Board could not afford to buy the building, Zuffar knew two purchasers who would in order to continue a doctors’  surgery.

  
  

   

  
  

  That Zuffar’s job as a councillor is to represent the views of his constituents and he felt obliged to do something to help elderly residents who felt lost and abandoned because of these changes.  He asked for an extension until March  ’25 at the surgery, giving users more time. 

  
  

   

  
  

  That this is the first and only public meeting about the closure of the surgery. 

  
  

   

  
  

  People at the meeting agreed that even if the surgery could stay open for 3 days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, this would help.  The plea was for the Integrated Care Board to have more compassion and care for the frail and elderly.

  
  

   

  
  

  Users said they had only been told of the closure recently as the decision was made last Friday, 29th November