HEALTH bosses have recommended a proposal to shut the doors of a rural County Durham GP practice is rejected - but have advised the approval to close another branch.

A report due to go before the NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group’s (DDES CCG) Primary Care Commissioning Committee today outlines its recommendations for the future of two of Skerne Medical Group’s (SMG) sites. Its authors Kelly Wilson, primary care business manager, of NHS England, and Joseph Chandy, director of primary care for DDES CCG, advise the committee to approve the closure of the Trimdon Village site and to reject the application to close Fishburn Village surgery.

The meeting comes following a six-week consultation prompted by a “recruitment crisis” threatening the entire group, which also runs surgeries in Sedgefield and Trimdon Colliery.

It sought opinions on whether “Trimdon Village surgery and one additional site” should be closed in 2019.

However, Ms Wilson and Mr Chandy said: “As the original letter did not include a reference to a second site closure and in particular did not reference Fishburn Village we do not consider patients were properly engaged on this additional reduction in branch sites.”

At a meeting earlier this month, Dr Christine Hearmon, of SMG, said a change in the structure of the group was needed to ensure the future of the group and provision of medical services for the longer term.

And despite opposition to the closure of the site in Trimdon Village, and acknowledgement that its residents “suffer from a high level of deprivation” and low car ownership, Ms Wilson and Mr Chandy have urged support for its closure.

They state: “The premises are in a poor state of repair. Clinicians working there are more isolated than they are in other premises.

"The impact on the population has to be weighed against the risk of the entire practice failing.

“The practice will continue to offer general medical services to the population including home visiting where appropriate.”

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson has previously condemned the closure of sites in both villages.

He said: “I’m delighted that the CCG has rejected the proposal to close the surgery in Fishburn, but really disappointed the CCG have accepted the closure of the surgery in Trimdon.

“The consultation I believe was flawed. "Fishburn wasn’t part of the closure consultation and then it was.

“Trimdon has the potential of a new health centre and that should be taken into consideration.

"But I am aware the shortage of GPs is also an issue which is something I’ve raised in the House of Commons.”

Ms Wilson and Mr Chandy also recommends the committee to approve a request for SMG to conduct an urgent review regarding the medium to long term future of the surgery sites.

They added: “Their patients must be engaged in this process and the process should be completed within six to 12 months of this meeting.”

The committee meeting takes place today in Fishburn.