GP shut since 2022 reopens on part-time basis

A doctor's surgery that has been shut since 2022 has reopened part-time, the owners have confirmed.

Parnwell Medical Centre in Saltersgate, Peterborough, shut after subsidence and structural safety concerns made the building unsafe, leaving about 1,700 patients needing to seek alternatives.

Patients were redirected to other practices managed by the same owners Dr Laliwala and Partners, including Ailsworth Medical Centre and Newborough Surgery. However, many residents said it was proving difficult and costly to travel there.

Dr Laliwala and Partners said the GP practice, which reopened on Wednesday, will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays from 09:00 to 13:00.

At a residents' meeting in February, patients expressed frustrations and highlighted the challenges of accessing a local doctor since the practice closed.

They were however "pleased" the practice was finally going to reopen.

Dr Mohsin Laliwala said "it had taken considerable time to resolve the building issues, secure resources and restore the premises".

He explained the closure initially stemmed from service changes during the Covid pandemic, when smaller surgeries were temporarily consolidated into larger sites.

The unused building was further affected by vandalism and a break-in that damaged equipment, he added.

Dr Nabeel Laliwala said: "We would like to thank all stakeholders, including local councillors Samantha Hemraj and Dr Shabina Qayyum, as well as our patients for their continued support.

"Whilst we are proud to reopen patient services at Parnwell, we would note that this has been accomplished with no support or funding from the local Integrated Care Board (ICB).

"We would also like to extend special recognition to our business manager, Tariq Ahmed, whose dedication and hard work have been instrumental in ensuring we fulfilled our commitment to opening as planned."

Previously, he said the practice's partners invested about £25,000 after external support from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS) was paused.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's Integrated Care System has been contacted by the BBC for a comment.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.