New Wortley: GP surgery opening times cut

An New Wortley GP practice has had 20% of its funding cut for appointments and has reduced its opening hours as a result.

Priory View Medical Centre, in Green Lane, has been operating a reduced hours service since funding was reduced by the Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group on March 31.

In an open letter to patients, the practice says it has reduced its opening hours from 7am-7pm Monday to Friday to 8am-6pm:

“This will have a significant effect on the service we can provide, sadly to the detriment to our patients. We are doing everything we can to soften the damage this is going to do but we cannot provide availability with no funds.”

The letter says the reduced hours are not the fault of partners and staff at Priory View and asks patients not to take it out on staff and clinicians. It adds:

“The responsibility for the detrimental change lies with those who plan how much money to spend on services and at the moment Leeds West CCG feels that priority lies in paying for the debt incurred by the hospitals rather than provide funds to your GPs.

One Priory View patient, who asked not to be named, added:

“It was difficult enough to get an appointment before, now it’s even harder.”

The surgery has encouraged patients to write to Leeds West CCG to complain.

It’s understood the Armley Hub, which is based at Priory View, is offering limited appointments from 7am-8am weekdays and on Saturdays and Sundays.

In light of the pre-election period West Leeds CCG said it was unable to comment on the issue.

How’s your surgery affected?

Have the opening hours of your local GP surgery been affected? The Dispatch would like to highlight the cuts across West Leeds and Pudsey. Email us news@westleedsdispatch.com or post a comment in the section below.