The Health Minister insists that a closure-threatened doctors’ surgery will stay open -if necessary under new management.

David Ashford was quizzed in the House of Keys this week about the Snaefell Surgery in Anagh Coar.

GPs there have warned it could close after branding a new contract offered by the DHSC as ’wholly insufficient’.

Responding to a question of urgent public importance tabled by Douglas South MHK Paul Quine, Mr Ashford pointed out that the GPs are self-employed contractors.

He told MHKs: ’The partners handing in their contract will not lead to the surgery’s closure. If necessary, it will continue under new management.’

The Minister said all GP practices are funded in exactly the same way and funding for primary care rose by £2.2m in this month’s Budget.

He said the current funding arrangements were only agreed by the GP representatives themselves a few months ago.

’We have gone back to the wider GP community to ask if they are still in agreement with the current contract provisions, and they have confirmed they are,’ he said.

Mr Ashford said the Snaefell surgery has had some difficulties over the last year.

It has been one GP down for most of the year and has, at stages, been two GPs down, he said.

The department has refunded £67,000 worth of fees to the practice in relation to the provision of locum cover for sickness leave.

Mr Ashford said the Snaefell practice had decided to close its list to new patients for most of the last year.

The overall effect of this has been that the practice has 111 fewer patients than it did this time last year.

An increase of 111 patients, should the practice open its list, would provide it with annual additional income of about £14,030, the Minister said.

He told the House of Keys: ’It is important to say, and I want it put on record, that the practice provides a very good service.

’The current GPs have served notice on the contract, which they are entitled to do.

’But I emphasise again that does not mean Snaefell Surgery will be closing.’