Andrew Dismore

A scheme by Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to move the Ravenscroft Medical Practice (RMP) in Golders Green to the GP practice in Finchley Memorial Hospital (FMH) has been opposed by Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore and Childs Hill Councillor Anne Clarke.

They have written to the Chair of Barnet CCG Dr Charlotte Benjamin.

Mr Dismore said:

‘Whilst I am pleased to see Barnet CCG’s intent to utilise the ground floor practitioners’ space at FMH, I do not believe this is the best way to go about it. The Finchley area has lost a number of local medical practices in recent years, and is under-provisioned as a result. New services opening at FMH should be new services, not redeployed from elsewhere. It makes little sense managing a problem in one area by creating a crisis somewhere else.

‘Uprooting a well-established local medical centre in the south of the borough to a new location several miles away in the east of the borough would be deeply unsatisfactory for the existing patients, who may have to take several buses and over half an hour to get to their GP. The RMC serves the Golders Green community well and should not be moved.’

Cllr Clarke added:

‘Many residents have contacted me to tell me how worried they are about this proposal. They want to ensure their GP services will remain open, especially elderly residents who have no means or desire to travel to FMH.

‘The south of the borough is due to see a large expansion in population, and with the potential scheme to close down the Cricklewood walk-in surgery, an already poorly handled decision is likely to become worse in terms of GP and health access for Cricklewood and Golders Green.’

ENDS

Notes:

• Andrew Dismore is the Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
• Cllr Anne Clarke is a Labour Councillor representing Childs Hill ward.
• A copy of the letter can be found here: Letter to Barnet CCG on RMC Feb 19