A CAMPAIGN is underway to see the return of GP services to a surgery in Pensnett.

Services at High Oak GP Surgery were transferred by the Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group to Brierley Hill Health and Social Care Centre at the end of March for the site to be used as an assessment centre to help patients with COVID-19.

Three months on from the transfer, councillors in the ward are calling for GP provision to be restored in the area amid worries the move could lead to Pensnett being permanently left without a surgery.

Councillor John Martin, who represents Pensnett and Brockmoor, said: "It is wrong to inconvenience local people by moving the surgery out of Pensnett - an area which both the NHS and Public Health officials acknowledge has serious health challenges.

"I use this GP surgery myself. It has an excellent reputation. While some people with cars can travel to access the re-located facilities in Brierley Hill, for elderly, disabled and parents with young children in Pensnett it is hugely inconvenient and an extra cost."

Councillor Judy Foster added: "Residents are as angry as we are about the prospect of High Oak not coming back and there being no alternative to Brierley Hill."

A petition has been launched and the councillors say they are determined to ensure Pensnett has a permanent GP surgery.

They are set to meet with members of the Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in the next few days to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, High Oak will continue to be used as a Respiratory Assessment Centre during the pandemic and no further decisions have been made regarding the future of the site past its current use, CCG chiefs say.

Neill Bucktin, Managing Director of the Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "During this unprecedented time it is vital that the health service put the necessary measures in place to ensure we meet the needs of people in Dudley.

"High Oak Surgery has temporarily relocated to Brierley Hill Health and Social Care Centre to create capacity for a Respiratory Assessment Centre (red site) to support patients with COVID-19, who do not need hospital care, to manage their symptoms.

"Whilst we continue to manage the pandemic, the High Oak site will continue to be our red site to enable primary care services to operate safely across the borough. No further decisions have been made past the current temporary service change."