Further twist in saga to keep GP surgery in Hopton as some services are closed
The long-running saga to keep a doctors’ surgery in Hopton has taken another twist after some services including GP appointments at its premises closed.
The Hopton Surgery, in High Street, and linked with the Stanton Surgery, is run by Doctor Andrew Hassan and Partners.
Doubt has been cast for a number of years as to what will happen to the facility, as it is run from a private house, with Dr Hassan retiring earlier this year.
However, due to dental surgery renovation and maintenance work at the Hopton Surgery, services on offer have been reduced to practice nurse, health care assistant and phlebotomist.
A statement on the surgery website apologised for the inconvenience, and added GP appointments and dispensary services will operate from the Stanton site.
Hopton Parish Council has written to associate practice manager Rob Freeman, calling for the suspended services to be reinstated.
The letter read: “This will come as a real blow to those in the village and wider communities who rely on these services and particularly those who have difficulties with transport.
“Moreover, those who attended the public meeting in Barningham earlier this year will be utterly bemused by this news as they were reassured that, whilst the case for a new surgery was being progressed, provision would continue to be made in Hopton for some time to come.
“The Parish Council and the Hopton Village Hall Management Committee are ready to support you in any way they can to achieve this and to help deliver a new surgery for our dependent communities as quickly and as cost effectively as possible.”
Carole Theobald, locality director for NHS England (East) added they had been working with the NHS West Suffolk CCG to try and arrange alternative arrangements for the Hopton Surgery.
“Other options for the future of the surgery, including the option of a replacement branch surgery, will continue to be explored with the practice and patients will be fully engaged in this process.”
In April, nearly 50 residents presented a petition with more than 1,300 signatures to then Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Suffolk and now the area’s MP Matthew Hancock calling on NHS bosses to keep a doctors’ surgery in Hopton.
