Congresbury’s GP surgery, temporarily closed since 2022, is facing permanent closure as Mendip Vale Medical Group contemplates ending services at the site. The decision stems from a combination of outdated infrastructure, staffing challenges, and prohibitive costs of renovation or relocation.
At a North Somerset Council health scrutiny committee meeting on March 12, Lois Reed, Associate Divisional Director of Mendip Vale Medical Group, highlighted that the current practice building is too small and lacks essential facilities. She further explained that reopening would require substantial investment estimated at £300,000—funds that are currently unavailable.
Though alternative sites for a new surgery were considered, escalating land prices linked to nearby housing developments have made these options untenable. Meanwhile, patients have been redirected to surgeries in neighboring Yatton and Langford during the temporary closure.
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The medical group is now exploring the possibility of transferring the existing building to a community organization, potentially repurposing it as a local community hub.
Debbie Freeman from the NHS Integrated Care Board noted that while not all rural villages are served by a GP practice, Congresbury has been fortunate to have one in the past. Committee chair Helen Thornton acknowledged the building’s inadequacy but lamented the lack of funding to establish a new surgery.
Local councillor Wendy Griggs supported the closure, citing the surgery’s cramped and outdated facilities, but expressed concerns about limited public transport options for patients. She also mentioned difficulties patients face when trying to obtain assistance via phone consultations.
In response, Dr Joanna King of Mendip Vale Medical Group emphasized the need to train staff to better assist patients with e-consult systems. She committed to providing transport support for patients requiring urgent in-person care but acknowledged the broader challenge of limited mobility in the rural area, describing it as “a form of deprivation.”
The final decision on the surgery’s closure rests with the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.