Loss of Primary Care in Oldham West & Royton ‘ Catastrophic’

I last raised my serious concerns surrounding primary care in Oldham West & Royton following the closure of Block Lane surgery in Chadderton last year, and this news on another GP closure is yet another blow for people in our town as we see more practices closing year on year now.

In the past few years alone 4 GP practices have closed in Oldham West & Royton, displacing 17,867 patients.

The town centre NHS walk in centre has closed alongside this.

The pressure this adds to an already overstretched system with A&E working above and beyond capacity, and a dwindling number of GP practices available to both take on new patients and have enough appointment capacity results in a lower capacity for care, impacting directly on residents.

The government urgently need to intervene. We are heading to a point where accessing primary care is increasingly limited and this is catastrophic for people’s health and wellbeing.

I had asked for a review to be undertaken for primary care in Oldham West & Royton and have asked for an update on this review.