I am incredibly disappointed that after my best efforts to get the ICB and the Landlord of Toftwood Surgery to talk and negotiate a deal for the benefit of the residents - they were not able to broker one.

Since I heard the news I held numerous meetings – and chaired two meetings between both the ICB and the Landlord of the surgery in an attempt to get a deal over the line. I am afraid in the end NHS surgeries are facilities run by GP businesses on leases which have to be agreed by the Landlord and the NHS and the GPs – which has not been possible despite my best efforts.

The recommendation which has now been published by the ICB sets out that the Toftwood surgery will close on 31 March 2025 and the 4000 patients affected are to be distributed between the Theatre Royal Surgery and the Orchard Surgery. I am incredibly concerned and I am seeking assurances that they indeed have the capacity to do this. I have heard of many examples of residents finding it difficult to get appointments – with the additional patient pressure I fear this could make it worse.

I realise that this recommendation by the Integrated Care Board will come as a great disappointment to many of you – and is not the result I was hoping for and is the result I attempted to prevent.

If this goes ahead after their board meeting next week – I have made it quite clear to the ICB that this cannot be a long term solution for Dereham, and that the south of Dereham and Toftwood needs access to a local medical centre.

Off the back of these recommendations I will be therefore be launching a campaign for a ‘Community Health Hub’ for South Dereham. I will now be having further talks over the coming weeks with ICB officials and looking at sites as to where this could be situated. As we anticipate more housing in the South of Dereham in the next few years we must fight for this urgently.  

Thank you to the many residents who have written to me about this matter. I will be posting further updates soon.