A GP surgery in Norfolk, rated as “good” by the Care Quality Commission, is slated for closure in 2025, a decision made despite public opposition. The Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) stated that Toftwood Medical Centre, situated near Dereham, is too small for its current patient population, and the cost of upgrading the facility would be excessive. The ICB’s primary care commissioning committee formally approved the closure on Tuesday. This decision followed a public consultation where patients from Toftwood and other Dereham surgeries expressed concerns regarding service capacity. The 4,000 registered patients are scheduled to be transferred to the nearby Orchard and Theatre Royal surgeries on 1 April 2025. A consultation regarding these arrangements had previously raised questions about the ability of the receiving surgeries to manage the increased demand. Nearly 2,000 individuals submitted feedback during the consultation, with over 1,400 of them voicing concerns about the potential impact of the closure on patient care, including issues related to appointment access and waiting times. At a public meeting held in November, attended by more than 150 people, patients spoke positively about the care they had received at Toftwood Medical Centre. The Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee has also opposed the move, having previously indicated it would seek government intervention if the closure was confirmed. Hopes for a new lease agreement for the building had been raised after local MP George Freeman intervened to mediate discussions between the landlord and the ICB. However, Sadie Parker, director of primary care for NHS Norfolk and Waveney, reported that insufficient progress was made to withdraw the plan to close the medical centre. She assured the meeting, which subsequently approved the plan, that relocating patients would “ensure no one is left without GP services”. The building’s lease expired in 2010, and while short-term leases have been in place since then, attempts to secure a new long-term agreement have been unsuccessful. Post navigation Council asked to prevent community hospital closure Care Quality Commission Rates Oaklea Trust as “Requires Improvement”