THE “shambles” surrounding Coombswood Surgery in Halesowen has entered another year after it emerged there is no date for the vital facility to reopen.

NHS bosses promised patients the reopening date would be October 17 after bailiffs closed the surgery in May due to a legal dispute between landlord Dr Humphry Akufo-Teteh and the tenants Dr Ruth Hearn and the Stourside Medical Group.

However, despite the legal dispute being settled, the surgery remains closed due to a hold-up with cleaning the building, forcing patients to travel miles to see a doctor.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris is furious the surgery remains under lock and key.

He said: “I continue to be very concerned on behalf of local patients who have been affected by this on-going saga. It is beyond ridiculous that this surgery is still closed, despite constant reassurances that an end to this dispute is in sight.

“The surgery needs to re-open now to ensure it is fulfilling its important role in our community and provide vital primary care, as opposed to playing games with patients’ care.”

A patient, who did not want to be named, told the News: “This is a complete shambles. We all went to a public meeting and were told it would be back open in October, and it is still closed.

“We have to travel all the way into Halesowen to see a doctor and elderly have real problems getting there because of the hills and lack of bus services.”

Caroline Brunt, chief nurse at Dudley NHS Clinical and Commissioning Group, confirmed there is no date for the surgery to reopen.

She said: “Following agreement of contracts between the Coombswood tenant and landlord, members of the CCG visited the surgery and on inspection a number of remedial actions, regarding infection control and medicines management, were required before reopening to ensure delivery of safe clinical services.

“The CCG have continued to work closely with the practice management to progress plans for reopening the surgery.”

She added: “The CCG has not been notified of a definite date to resume clinical services however the CCG are taking all supportive and contractual actions to ensure patients are able to access this local service as soon as possible.”