LittleLad

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Letters of confirmation from NHS are landing on doorsteps today.Ours just came through the letterbox. Great timing - dated the 17th arrives on a Friday when many won't open until this evening and then will likely be worrying over the weekend with no "support" available. > Nice Practices now have online registration facilities. The two suggested by Bic Basher with decent reviews on NHS Choices, Hambleden Clinic (http://www.hambledenclinic.co.uk/new_patients_p7433.html?) at Denmark Hill and 306 Medical Centre(http://www.306medicalcentre.nhs.uk/new-patients.aspx?t=2) on Lordship Lane, both have online registration facilities. Thanks Bic for pointing us in the right direction,'306 has an online address checker which shows if your postcode is covered, all of SE22 is covered/part of SE5.... ' So calamity averted, Kel, as you can register online at any time from the comfort of your home and no need to feel unsupported, as you are only a few clicks away from finding a new practice. I have done exactly that.

It would seem that we are shooting the messengers, NHS England. Dr Sarma may have had the option to bring in a partner before retiring and exercised that option we would not be here today. Dr Sarma being a single handed GP would be the sole proprieter/contract holder. Dr Peter Marks may not be a partner(he could be a salaried GP?) so may not be able to continue the practice. As pointed out in the earlier thread NHS England has no control over contractors and if a decision by him was made there was nothing further they could do but consult the local medical committee which they must have, to reach the decision on the future. As I understand Dr Sarma should have had conversations with NHS England about his plans and GP contracts require 6 months notice to be released from the contract but a birdy tells me that he asked to be released earlier, possibly by end of July. In light of Dr Sarma's dwindling list, it would seem that they may have decided to offer patients a choice to register at any of the neighbouring practices, thus letting the patients decide where they want to go as opposed to being placed with another practice (MGGP etc) who they may not necessarily be happy with. Clearly there are good practices in the locality and one can choose from NHS Choices, based on reviews.(http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/se22-8pt/Results/4/-0.0812201276421547/51.4590759277344/4/0?distance=25) I believe that all patients would get a letter about 6 weeks before closure advising them of their options, that is if they have not already received one. This is usually the case when a GP retires or dies or for any other major contractual change such as re location.. Also one needs to consider if anyone would have wanted to take the practice over in light of the overheads (Maybe a FOI request could be made to find out the overheads of Dulwich Hospital) and would it have been cost effective and economically viable for a small practice to continue on the site.