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Chatham doctors bow out after 33 years at The King’s Family Practice as DMC Healthcare take over

Doctors threw a goodbye party at their surgery after it was taken over by a larger health provider.

Catherine Norwood and Christine Anota have been at The King’s Family Practice in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, for a combined 33 years.

But the surgery failed to recruit sufficient GPs, due to a national shortage, and will now be run by the DMC Healthcare Group.

The King's Family Practice, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham..Goodbye party..Picture: Steve Crispe. (9253401)
The King's Family Practice, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham..Goodbye party..Picture: Steve Crispe. (9253401)

A joint statement, posted on the surgery’s website, said they had struggled to find a replacement partner after a third doctor left the practice in 2016.

It continued: “Over the past year we have explored many different ways of working in order to meet patient demand, as well as approaching Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in an attempt to access extra support.

“Sadly, it became clear that the only real option was to seek a larger provider, who would take over King’s and thereby bring extra clinicians to the practice.

“After lengthy discussions it has been agreed that the practice will join the DMC Healthcare group, which already runs several local practices as well as services in London.

“This has been a very difficult decision to reach as we have practised at King’s for many years - Dr Anota 18 years and Dr Norwood 15.

“ However, we feel that it is right to leave at this point as a new era for the practice begins.

“It has been a privilege and joy to serve the communities of Chatham and Gillingham.”

Dr Catherine Norwood and Dr Christine Anota Picture: Steve Crispe (9253403)
Dr Catherine Norwood and Dr Christine Anota Picture: Steve Crispe (9253403)

The changes were due to come into effect yesterday (Wednesday), with no immediate alterations in patients’ access to medical care.

We reported last week how DMC Healthcare faced “unforeseen issues” after taking on a £17.5 million contract to provide skin care services across the Medway Towns.

Dermatology patients were left hanging on the phone for hours during the transition last month, after Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, closed its department and services were transferred out into community clinics.

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