Residents are due to meet over the planned closure of the walk-in surgery based at Shorne Doctors' Surgery.

The surgery - part of Downs Way Medical Practice - has informed patients the walk-in clinic will close from Monday September 2, and will be replaced by a pre-bookable appointment service.

The move is intended to allow the practice to provide online booking, and to make appointments available to other surgeries - but some fear it will simply make appointments harder to get.

There are fears elderly residents in Shorne could miss out on vital healthcare after their Doctor's surgery has announced they will stop walk-in services

Chairman of Shorne Parish Council Bob Lane - also so Gravesham Borough Councillor for Shorne, Cobham, and Luddesdown Ward - is among those concerned, and has pushed the surgery to host a public meeting at Shorne Village Hall in The Street, Shorne, at 6pm on Thursday August 1.

"Many of Shorne surgery’s patients are elderly and do not use phone apps or IT equipment, so online booking is of no use to them," he says.

"In future, they will have to join a queue of telephone calls in the hope that they get an answer, and in the hope that there is still an appointment available when they finally get through.

"Many patients have had experience of this at other surgeries, and they know it is not effective.

"What happens if all they can’t get through? What happens if all appointments are already booked up?

"Will Shorne patients have to wait days, or will they be shunted off to other surgeries outside the village?

"Will they now have to make an appointment to be ill in advance?"

He criticised the surgery for not properly consulting on the change, adding: "Many Shorne patients are extremely concerned at the thought of losing this highly valued, long standing facility.

"The patients of Shorne surgery rely on being able to come to the surgery when they are ill, and guarantee to be seen.

"This long-standing facility is being denied to them, in order to make room for patients from outside the area.

"The surgery offered to hold an information evening at the surgery, but it was clear that there would not be room to accommodate all the aggrieved patients.

"Under pressure from residents, Shorne Parish Council, and their local Borough Councillor, the surgery has agreed to move the event to Shorne Village Hall at 6pm on Thursday August 1."

Downs Way Medical Practice website said the changes followed the latest NHS specification for General Practice (2019) which now requires practices to offer online booking and make appointments available to other NHS agencies for urgent booking.

"Many of Shorne surgery's patients are elderly and do not use phone apps or IT equipment, so online booking is of no use to them" - Bob Lane

A statement on the practice's website added: "Regrettably these new requirements cannot be met with the existing appointment system, and so after much debate the partners have now reached the conclusion that change is necessary.

"Therefore, from Monday September 2, a bookable appointment system will be introduced to replace the current walk in service.

"Phone lines will be open from 0830 to book appointments on the day.

"Please be assured, there will be no cut in the overall number of appointments.

"Attendance at the walk in surgery and booked appointments has been monitored over several years, and the new system will provide equivalent access to patients.

"There will be an information evening at Shorne Surgery at 6pm on Thursday August 1, at which there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have."

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