A PROPOSED extension to a North Yorkshire medical practice could damage the viability of the Friarage Hospital, it has been suggested amid claims of "uproar" among GPs who knew nothing of the scheme.

Upper Dales county councillor John Blackie has spoken out after plans for an extension to the Harewood Medical Practice in Catterick Garrison were revealed at a recent meeting of the Heartbeat Alliance - which is made of 21 GPs practices within the NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire & Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area.

He said the alliance was proposing a system of 'hub and spoke primary care provision' with Harewood being the hub and Leyburn Health Centre being the spoke.

However, according to Cllr Blackie, architects plans had been drawn up for a £4m extension without other GPs within the alliance being aware of the scheme.

He said: "Several GP practices present at the meeting were in uproar at the advanced stage of the masterplan, and that it had reached this far and apparently incurred significant expenditure without any consultation with them or the public - some described it as a 'fait accompli'."

Cllr Blackie claimed that while he and the GPs were in favour of primary care services being brought closer to communities, the system being proposed would take on services currently provided at the Friarage and would mean the hospital lost more than £1m a year in revenue.

In response, Vicky Pleydell, clinical chief officer at NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire & Whitby CCG, said the CCG was working on the Fit4 the Future project which aimed to build and strengthen community services with the Friarage Hospital at their heart.

She added: "As part of the CCG’s strategic plan, which is focused on delivering care closer to people’s homes, Catterick Garrison has been identified as one of several areas where health services require development.

"The CCG is working closely with partners across health and social care, however we must emphasise that we are still very much in the early stages of discussions.

"Through a series of engagement events and activities, which will take place over the coming months we will be inviting residents and stakeholders to work with us to develop our ideas further."

Dr Pleydell said the Fit4 the Future team had attended a number of public events to discuss issues and answer queries. The next CCG Patient Congress event is to be held at Tennants in Leyburn at 9.30am on Wednesday, November 25.

Members of the public should confirm attendance by emailing HRWCCG.HRWCCGenquiries@nhs.net or calling 01609-767600.