Plans to relocate a medical centre which has served the Golders Green community for more than 70 years have been scrapped, after an outcry by local residents.
The Ravenscroft Medical Centre, which serves around 7,000 people, a few thousand of them Jewish, was set to relocate to Finchley Memorial Hospital early next year. The move was opposed by a large number of residents – particularly the elderly, who argued that the three mile journey would be “disastrous” for patients, making it “physically impossible to reach”.
Despite objections from residents and local rabbis, there had been fears that a consultation by the Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group on the matter was little more than window dressing. At a meeting of the CCG in August after the consultation, where the move was agreed, an attendee described it as “from the beginning a foregone conclusion”.
Both Conservative and Labour councillors had spoken out against the planned relocation. Last week, Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer reportedly met Health Secretary Matt Hancock to discuss the issue.
Mr Freer described the decision as great news for the local community. It has been a terrific example of where local residents coming together can make a real difference.”
On Friday, Barnet CCG announced that four days previously, it had been informed by another surgery, the Millway Medical Practice in Mill Hill, which had been part of the joint application by a number of practices to move to Finchley Memorial, that it wanted to withdraw.
“The withdrawal of Millway Medical Practice changes the nature of the project materially. This means the proposed move of Ravenscroft Medical Centre to Finchley Memorial Hospital will not now go ahead.”
Dr Barry Subel, the GP partner at Ravenscroft Medical Centre and the key force behind the relocation effort, said he was “extremely disappointed with this outcome. However, patients are my first priority and I remain completely committed to continuing to provide excellent clinical care for my patients.”
Roberto Weeden-Sanz, a Conservative Barnet councillor, hailed the decision as “a great victory for the community.
“It's a testament to the hard work of local residents, local MP Mike Freer and local councillors who actively campaigned against it.”
