Elderly patients worried as GP surgery announces move

Wootton Bridge Medical Centre is moving to a new site in Newport

Residents have warned the closure of a GP surgery on the Isle of Wight would hit elderly people the hardest.

Those living in Wootton Bridge have been told their practice was moving to a new site in Newport.

But some vulnerable patients, who do not drive, have said poor transport links could leave them travelling for more than an hour to see a doctor.

The NHS said it was a "complex" situation but it was looking to help. The move is expected to take place in the autumn.

Myrtle Feek says the move would be inconvenient for her

Cracks and ground movement were discovered at the Wootton Bridge site in 2022.

A temporary relocation was initially expected, but Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has since announced the move will be permanent.

While 97-year-old Mytle Feek is in good health, she relies on friends to take her less than half a mile to the existing practice site in Brannon Way.

"When you’ve had a little village with three doctors in it the whole time and then suddenly no doctors at all and a long way to go, it's not life," she said.

The proposed site for the new Medical Centre on Riverway Industrial Park, Newport

A new site on Riverway Industrial Site in Newport has been found by Solent NHS Trust, which stepped in to run the service to ensure the practice did not close.

Wootton Bridge Surgery is part of Medina Healthcare, which operates a second practice in West Street in Newport.

Under the proposals, both practices would merge on the new site.

The GPs would become salaried employees instead of partners.

Christine Alexander says she moved to Wootton Bridge because it had a GP surgery

Recent engagement events held by Solent NHS Trust heard some patients could end up taking two buses that were not always reliable.

Other options included taxis or lifts from friends or family.

Christine Alexander said one of the reasons she and her husband moved to Wootton Bridge was for its facilities, as they no longer enjoyed driving.

She thought they had "chosen sensibly" and was concerned the same thing would happen if they were to move again.

Residents voiced their concerns at engagement events

Among the suggested solutions was a satellite clinic in Wootton, retaining GP and nursing staff to treat the most vulnerable.

Talks are taking place to see if it could be a viable option, the BBC understands.

A survey is also being carried out to identify the needs of patients affected.

Terri Russell, strategic director of primary care at Solent NHS Trust, said it was a "complex" situation.

"But if we can continue to support the teams to keep doing what they do, that’s what we’re here for.

"We need to make sure practices themselves aren’t closing even though there might be changes around buildings," she added.