Higham Surgery Closure Sparks Outcry from Leaders and Community

Local leaders are upset about a doctor’s office closing. They called the plan drastic and harmful in a letter. The plan impacts Highparks Medical Practice’s Higham location. Leaders said the decision was sudden and unexpected. Patients feel worried, shocked, angry, and frustrated. Over 2,000 people signed a petition about it.

The practice said it is hard to pay for all four sites. They have locations in Cliffe Woods, Cliffe, Higham, and Wainscott. They cited building costs and maintenance issues. They assessed the situation for 18 months. Closing the Higham site affects the least people, they decided. They are now formally applying to close it.

The practice said closing is a hard choice for them. They promised to give good care during the change. Lauren Sullivan, an MP, sent a letter to the NHS. The letter went to Cedi Fredrick. Fredrick chairs NHS Kent and Medway ICB. The letter objects to the closure plan.

Other leaders signed the letter too. The signers included several local councilors. Also, a parish priest added their name, as did leaders from local churches. Plus, the school headteacher signed. They shared the village’s worries about the closure. It concerns the branch on Hermitage Lane.

The closure affects many people. Older people may have trouble getting to another site. People with disabilities will struggle to get to appointments. People with chronic health issues have concerns, too. Parents who walk to the clinic worry about vaccinations.

Buses run only three times daily from Higham and Cliffe. This makes transport hard. Patients may wait a long time. The letter stated public transport is unreliable. It is also costly and time-consuming. Sick people likely won’t travel far in bad weather.

The letter asks about the consultation process. Patients have questions about finances. They say the practice hasn’t answered them. They cite commercial confidentiality. This makes understanding the closure difficult, as people feel they cannot engage with the plan.

Many older residents are used to the local surgery. The closure alarms and confuses them. Younger people also feel unheard. Some registered with the practice recently and had no idea about the closure plan. They were unaware of the last 18 months of assessment.

Patients say the surgery reduced services. Its hours changed, and its service lessened. It offered appointments at other branches instead. Patients think this led to the planned shutdown, hiding the true need for the surgery.

The letter signers want a meeting with the ICB. It is scheduled for March 4. They want the ICB to talk with the community and Highparks. They suggested an informal process. Good transport between sites is a big worry.

Keeping some kind of GP service in Higham matters. It is better than closing it completely. The letter said this. Maybe a smaller venue would work. Another practice could run a service there. The group wants the practice to rethink the closure. Work with the ICB is key. They should keep all four sites running well to avoid the drastic closure effects.

Thousands signed a petition against the closure. Higham resident Charlotte Angell started it. She said patients learned of the plan by text. The message came January 23. The practice has over 2,800 patients in Higham. The closest site is in Cliffe Woods, about two miles away.