Petition started to save Toftwood surgery in Dereham

Last week, NHS bosses announced the opening of a consultation period regarding the future of Toftwood Medical Centre in Dereham.

Health chiefs say that since the contract would be expiring in March 2025, the service is being brought under review.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney is considering whether to let the service lapse and disperse patients across the two nearest surgeries, Orchard and Theatre Royal, both of which are a half-hour walk from the Toftwood practice. 

The proposal has caused disquiet in Dereham from people fearing future access of GPs.

Wellbeing Pharmacy, the chemist located on the same site as the medical centre on Chapel Lane, has now launched a petition in a bid to save the surgery.

Hanish Puppala, pharmacy manager, said he was concerned about the impact the closure will have on those who walk to the surgery. 

He said: "There are a lot of patients who are older and won't be able to walk to the other surgeries. 

"This surgery is a walkable distance but if they have to go to the ones in town, they also face greater waiting times. 

A pharmacy near a medical centre under threat to close in 2025 has launched a petition to save its neighbouring surgery. (Image: Google Maps)

"It will be so difficult if it closes, which was why we started the petition." 

Since the petition was launched, it has already received at least 150 signatures. 

The closure of the surgery could see Orchard and Theatre Royal gaining an additional 2,000 patients each, which would ultimately stretch the capacity of their services.

It also comes at a time when the area will see significant housing development growth in the coming years, including one on Swanton Road where work is already underway to build 216 homes.

The medical centre could face closure after it was announced its contract would be expiring next year. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2015) Others have also voiced their concerns about the impact the closure would have on the town.

Linda Monument, Dereham's town mayor, said the closure would be "a disaster" to the area and would result in an increase in traffic by asking Toftwood patients to use the Theatre Royal and Orchard surgeries.

She said: "I am appalled to hear that NHS Norfolk and Waveney are considering closing the Toftwood Medical Centre.

"People who live in Toftwood need their surgery and there will be a lot more people moving into the new houses being built in Toftwood over the next few years.

"The proposal to close a service which has been rated as good and serves around 4,000 people seems to me to be short-sighted and unrealistic.

"It is my personal belief that NHS Norfolk and Waveney needs to do everything it can to keep the Toftwood surgery open, and to find bigger premises in Toftwood if the present building is too small.

George Freeman, Mid Norfolk's Conservative MP, has also weighed in on the situation, saying he was "very concerned and disappointed" about the news.

George Freeman said he was disappointed to hear of the news. (Image: UK Parliament) He said: "Local surgeries in Dereham and Mattishall are already under pressure of rising demand from new housing and with Toftwood housing growth we surely need more local GP and community health provision and not less. 

"When new housing is built it should come with funding for new community healthcare facilities, which is why I got the law changed in 2018 so that the local NHS is informed about and consulted on new housing plans so it can plan ahead.

"I’ll be asking the local NHS Commissioning Group to think again on this."

Health bosses say the surgery's building is currently too small for the population it serves and would need considerable investment to continue to provide the services the area needs.

NHS Norfolk and Waveney's consultation will run until Thursday, November 21, and those who wish to participate can do so here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/toftwoodmedicalcentre/.