Holt Medical Practice have now formally applied to close Blakeney Surgery. This is a great disappointment to Blakeney parish council who, along with other parish councils, our MP and our District Councillor have been campaigning for a restoration of medical services. We know how much people in Blakeney, and the wider community, care about the surgery and we know, too, that readers will share our dismay about the Practice's decision.

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Blakeney Parish Council believe the decision to be wrong and we are particularly concerned about the proposals put forward by the Practice for mitigation.  The Practice say they have had some (apparently inconclusive) discussions with local organisations about collection of medication.  Aside from that, all their proposals for mitigation are based on the presumption that patients will travel to Holt.

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Blakeney Parish Council believe this is unacceptable. At the very least, the parish council are arguing for medication collection and prescription ordering to be available in Blakeney five days a week. We also want the Practice to offer GP and nurse appointments on two or three days a week, to provide a wellbeing surgery in the community where, for example, diabetic checks could be made and to put in place a community transport arrangement.

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A final decision about the future of the surgery is to be made by the Integrated Care Board at a meeting on 23 April.  We believe that the community cares about the outcome of that meeting, so we are asking you to add your voice either by writing to the Integrated Care Board or emailing.  A draft is below. 

This matter will also be the main topic at Blakeney parish council's annual meeting to be held at the village hall on 7 March - please come along.