A GP practice awaiting its new premises has been forced to split into separate surgeries after failing to secure a lease extension.
Pulse revealed in August that St James Medical Practice in Walthamstow, which was at risk of having no premises from October, had been ‘shell-shocked’ at advice from its ICB to ‘hand back the contract’.
The GP practice has been waiting years for new premises as part of a redevelopment project which has been repeatedly delayed.
GP partner Dr Shalini Kawar told Pulse over the summer that the ICB had been pushing their landlord for a six-month extension to the current lease which was due to end on 25 October.
Since the new premises will not be completed until ‘early 2026’, North East London ICB suggested that the practice merge with another, ‘split into multiple smaller parts’, or hand back the contract.
Now, North East London ICB has confirmed that St James will next week relocate to two local medical centres which will serve as ‘temporary premises’ until completion of the new development.
The practice told patients last week that all current staff ‘will transfer across the two sites thus ensuring continuity of care within the temporary facilities’.
It also confirmed that despite efforts from the practice and the ICB to extend the lease for the current site, an ‘agreement could not be reached’.
‘The landlord (freeholder) is under no obligation to provide an extension, and the landlord already has plans in place for the future use of the space,’ the practice told patients.
A post on their website said: ‘The current lease for St James Medical Practice, 47 St James Street ends in October 2024 and cannot be extended. The practice has been working closely with ICB to put temporary arrangements in place.
‘After considering several different options, the most suitable option for the practice and patients is to temporarily relocate to other premises until the new development at Jazz Yard is ready in early 2026.
‘We appreciate this decision may be unsettling for our patients; however, we will ensure that any disruption to patient services is kept to a minimum and we will continue to support patients throughout this process.’
Dr Kawar said in an update on the ICB’s website that she and the team are ‘committed to ensuring continuity of care’ for patients.
She continued: ‘We had hoped that we would move directly to the Jazz Yard and understand that this temporary move is disruptive but we can assure you that while we might be changing our location – our team, our care and our practice will continue to provide the quality care our patients expect.’
The ICB’s chief strategy and transformation officer Johanna Moss said their ‘priority’ is ensuring patients have ‘ongoing access’ to GP services.
She said: ‘We understand that uncertainty over the move has led to concerns among patients, but we are committed to supporting the practice, including providing resilience funding, to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum and that patients have continuity of care.
‘Along with local partners, including Waltham Forest Council and neighbouring GP surgeries, we will continue to support St James Medical Practice while we look forward to the completion of the new Jazz Yard development in Walthamstow.’
