Temporary GP surgery plan for Leeds village
Temporary GP surgery plan for Scholes village
Villagers hope a temporary doctor’s surgery can be opened after the closure of their GP practice.
Plans have been drawn up to convert a community centre in Scholes, east Leeds, to provide NHS appointments.
Patients currently have to travel outside the village after Scholes Surgery, on Main Street, closed in April.
A campaign was launched to maintain GP services and ward councillors worked to find a solution.
The Manor House Community Centre on Belle Vue Road will be used by GPs for a temporary three-year period if planning permission is secured.
Harewood Conservative councillor Ryan Stephenson said: “Scholes is a village with an increasingly older population, so we knew it would be important to find a local solution to retain a GP surgery in the locality.
“As councillors, we asked officials to consider several different sites, but the only viable option is the Manor House, a council-owned asset that is occasionally used as a community building.”
NHS bosses said the landlord of the former surgery gave notice of their intention to sell the building before it closed last month.
A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said a consultation was launched on possible use of the Manor House.
They said: “Options for a temporary solution for patients in Scholes are being explored until longer term arrangements to support residents are put in place.
“Whilst the planning application has been submitted, any decision to proceed will be made based on the outcome of the consultation and engagement activities and subject to the appropriate planning approval.”
Current users of the Manor House building were among those being consulted, the ICB said.