COOMBSWOOD Surgery in Halesowen has partially reopened its doors after bailiffs closed the building down in May.

The legal dispute between the building's landlord Dr Humphry Akufo-Teteh and the tenants Stourside Medical Group has been resolved.

A receptionist was at the Coombswood Road surgery today (Monday) but patients will not be able to attend appointments there yet.

Dudley Care and Commissioning Group's chief nurse and quality officer Caroline Brunt said: “I am really pleased the surgery has opened its doors today.

"Before clinical facilities can reopen a series of checks of equipment and the environment in relation to infection control need to be undertaken given the building has been closed for a period of time."

She added: "The staff at the surgery are working exceptionally hard, with the support of the CCG, to ensure all appropriate steps are taken as quickly as possible to resume clinical sessions and in the meantime the full range of services continues to be available at Stourside and Tenlands Road.”

The CCG organised a meeting for patients who had been affected by the surgery closure, many of whom had to travel miles to see a doctor over the summer.

Nurse Brunt added: “ The CCG hosted a listening event on Thursday evening with the Practice and Healthwatch Dudley. "The aim of the event was to give patients registered at Stourside, Coombswood Road and Tenlands Road the opportunity to talk to us about what works well, where they think services can be improved and what matters most to them, based on their experiences within the practices.

She added: "These conversations follow the closure of the Coombswood Branch Surgery and create an opportunity to shape the way that that surgery now operates as it opens its doors to the patients again."

"It is so important that patients are given a voice about key services in their community and we were pleased to hear views and see the practice respond positively to the patients affected.”