UPDATE: Surgery's contract gets renewed

Dr Tim Kimber, a GP of 29 years and partner at The Park Surgery in Littlehampton, expressed his fears that its contract with Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group to treat minor injuries would not be renewed.

But now the commissioning group has said that it will be extending the current contract for six months.

Sarah Henley, Head of Primary Care at the Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The CCG will be extending the Minor Injury contract with The Park Surgery for the next six months.

“They provide an excellent service for patients who require a minor injury treatment and help reduce the number of people going to an already busy A&E.

“We will work with all the practices in the future to ensure there is access to minor injury services.”

This follows the announcement that Arun Medical Group’s GP practice in East Street will close in October, affecting 7,500 patients.

Dr Kimber said that The Park surgery will be taking on more clinical and administrative staff to cope with the extension of the contract and the East Street surgery closure.

He added: “We encourage patients with minor injuries such as bumps, bruises, stings, cuts and lacerations to visit the walk-in service that we offer on weekdays from 8am to 5pm rather than going to A&E.

“We hope that in the fullness of time that the CCG will fund more hours, later into the evening and perhaps at weekends.

“We can see patients from all the local practices in Littlehampton, Rustington and East Preston.”

Ms Henley added that it was a ‘difficult time’ for GPs in Arun but the CCG was searching for a resolution.

She said: “It is a difficult time for general practice in Arun at the moment and the CCG is working with both Arun Medical Group and the other practices, in and around Littlehampton to discuss the best options for both patients and the existing practices.”

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