Ahead of the meeting of the Oxfordshire Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee, I have written to HOSC urging them to vote formally on whether the proposed closure of Deer Park is a substantial chance in service. I have also urged that in this vote, members should vote to pass this motion, thus formlly referring this to the Secretary of State for Health for consideration.
Residents have made clear in the strongest terms that they deplore the closure of this vital and efficient surgery, and I entirely agree. There are 4,500 patients currently treated at Deer Park who will have to be dispersed elsewhere, increasing waiting times at already overstrentched services. That is before we consider the significant increase in housing that is expected in the surrounding area in the coming years, that is likely to take the numbers up significantly ti make this a sizeable surgery in due course.
I urged that the ongoing judicial proceedings should not be a barrier to voting. HOSC has separate, distinct scrutiny powers and is able to take its own decisions, independantly of this legal process. If the Committee were to wait until its next meeting in March, it will be too late for action, as closure of Deer Park is due at the end of March.
I further urged the HOSC to find the proposed closure to indeed be a significant change in service provision. West Witney and the surrounding villages are currently served by a well-regarded, well-run and popular surgery.
I have asked for my letter to recorded in the minutes of the meeting on Thursday 2nd February 2017.
