Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the decision by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to close Westbourne Surgery.

The Department understands that the general practice (GP) partners at Emsworth Medical Practice have arrived at the decision to propose the closure of the Westbourne Branch Surgery and that the proposed date of closure is 27 June 2025.

There are no plans to review the decision by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to close Westbourne Surgery. There is a high bar set out in guidance for intervention by my Rt. Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in contested reconfiguration cases, who would expect all avenues of local resolution to be exhausted before a call-in request is made.

Responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioner, in this case, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Department. The closure of a GP surgery is an issue that is considered and decided upon by local commissioners following an application from a GP provider.

Local health and care organisations are best placed to make decisions on commissioning services for their communities, working with local authorities, stakeholders, and local populations to meet people’s needs.

When a practice does close, patients will be informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice within their area. Commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that the affected patients have access to GP services.