Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of potential increases in patient numbers at some GP practices as a result of practice closures due to rising rent and charges imposed by NHS Property Services.

We are aware of only one practice where the general practitioner (GP) cited NHS Property Services charges among the reasons for handing back their contract. NHS Property Services worked with and supported the practice in reconciling the charges and these were then agreed and paid in full by the practice.

When a GP practice does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at other local practices of their choice within the catchment area in which they live. In some instances, and in consultation with patients and patient groups, patients are allocated to other neighbouring practices with adequate capacity. Commissioners locally will work with their practices to ensure they are only allocated a volume of patients which they have capacity to manage appropriately and effectively.