Promenade Medical Centre, in Douglas, is set to close after it was unable to recruit a permanent replacement doctor.

The 4,300 patients and staff at the practice, at the Chester Street car park, in Market Street, have been told it will be wound down over the next five months.

Health Minister David Ashford has reassured patients that plans are being made to ensure continuity of service at the surgery and in the future.

’It’s always sad when a long-standing and valued local practice winds down, and I would to thank Dr Hillas and Dr Greig for their service and commitment to their patients and the community,’ he said.

’I recognise that change can be unsettling but we will ensure patients’ needs are met while we consider options for the longer term. ’We’re talking to other practices about how they can help by taking on patients. Patients will be kept informed and we will listen to their views.’

sadness

In a statement, the practice said: ’It is with great sadness that the partners announce that the practice is likely to close in the next few months, after many decades of service.

’The reason is simple. We are already short of one GP, and a second has long set retirement plans for the next few months. This would leave one doctor to provide services to patients which is neither safe nor sustainable.’ It continues: ’We have spent much time and money trying to secure new doctors for the practice.

’However, within the resources made available to us, the posts have not been sufficiently attractive to be able to recruit new doctors, and we have no alternative but to close.’

The health department said it was considering all options to continue running GP services from the surgery, which will continue to operate with support from locum GPs ’possibly until the end of June’.

The eight staff have been informed about the closure by the two GPs. Patients with queries should call the DHSC Primary Care team on weekday afternoons or email [email protected]