Village surgery is not an effective use of NHS funds

Due to personal concerns about Slaidburn Country Practice, I recently changed our family GP to Pendleside Practice, Clitheroe. Even though my children have special needs we have found the services in Clitheroe to be excellent and always accessible. I have no difficulty in making convenient appointments and our GP is always happy to make a home visit. If needed we are able to make use of the Little Green Bus Dial-a-ride service to Clitheroe.

The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee means Slaidburn Country Practice receives far more money per patient than other GPs in the area. This results in tens of thousands of pounds in extra funding for a practice that serves a very small population and this diverts funds away from other primary care services in Lancashire.

My children are not able to travel to the surgery easily, but we have suffered no hardship in changing our GP practice to Clitheroe and are very pleased with the modern facilities and caring doctors, and I believe others in Slaidburn will find the same if the health centre closes. In these austere times, providing Slaidburn Health Centre with extra funding is not an effective use of limited NHS resources. Distributing funding fairly between GP practices will result in better and more accessible services for everyone in Clitheroe and the surrounding villages.

Julie Elliot,

Slaidburn