NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says it has received interest from a number of different providers to take on the running of Hightown Village Surgery.

It follows the CCG’s approval of the request to release the current provider, Chapel Lane Surgery in Formby, who has held the contract for Hightown since 2018, from running the practice.

Local practices will be invited to express their interest in managing Hightown to provide continuous care for its small community of under 2,000 patients on a temporary basis whilst a long term provider can be found.

Dr Pete Chamberlain, chair of NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “Patients should be assured that this change in management will not affect the care they can expect from their local practice and it continues to be there for them in offering support and a range of appointments, including face to face for those who need them. 

“We thank Chapel Lane for the services it has provided to its patients in an extremely challenging time and this work is reflected in the good results it was awarded in its recent inspection.”

In July 2021 the Care Quality Commission rated Hightown Village Surgery as ‘good’ across all areas that the inspection looks at, finding it safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

Dr Doug Callow, partner from Chapel Lane Surgery, said: “We would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to our patients who have supported us and shown us great kindness. We will work with our replacement to ensure the change is seamless for all our patients and the care they need during our handover.” 

Once temporary management arrangements are in place, an exercise will begin to identify a longer term provider to run Hightown Village Surgery.

Pete added: “Any temporary provider will be local as per our policies and therefore know-well the area and needs of the patients and we would be asking them to commit to Hightown until a longer term provider is found.”

All NHS contracts are awarded for a set period of time. Before they reach their full term, a process begins to ensure there are no gaps for patients between the old contract ending and the new one beginning. This is particularly important where contracts are awarded to new providers. These re-procurement exercises are carried out to meet strict legal rules.

A re-procurement exercise such as one for Hightown Village Surgery would expect to take around six to nine months.