PLANS to reintroduce a doctors’ surgery back to Brierley - almost three years since the medical centre closed its doors - are picking up pace with a proposed site in the offing.
Patients at Brierley Medical Centre, on Church Drive, received a letter from the Barnsley Healthcare Federation - who run the site - in April 2023 stating that the site would be closed temporarily.
The decision was made after a structural survey was completed by the federation a month earlier, concluding that there was extensive structural damage to the building itself.
This ultimately led to the closure of the site, with patients being told they were being transferred to the Grimethorpe Medical Centre more than a mile away.
Bosses at the time said that the health and safety of its patients and staff were paramount to making the decision which was made in conjunction with the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS England.
It was anticipated that the relocation would only be a temporary fix and that the site would reopen within months of its closure.
However, it’s been revealed that the centre will not reopen and instead Barnsley Healthcare Federation are discussing plans for a new centre.
North East ward councillors Ashley Peace, Ruth Booker and Dorothy Coates have been in constant discussion with the federation and this week, following their third meeting, confirmed plans were picking up pace.
They said: “This week we held our third meeting with Barnsley Healthcare Federation representatives, to continue discussions about the future of healthcare provision for Brierley.
“We’ve talked in detail about what is truly needed locally, including plans for the new surgery building, access to a pharmacy, a dedicated community space, and an external garden area that residents can benefit from.
“While we are still at a very early stage in the process, everything is progressing well and conversations remain constructive and focused on delivering the best possible outcome for all involved.”
A site behind the Miners’ Welfare Recreation Ground and near to Ringstone Grove has been earmarked and is currently under consideration to be used.
They added: “The new surgery is much needed for our community and residents.
“As plans develop, we are committed to ensuring all voices are heard.
“We will host community meetings to share any proposals and gather feedback once detailed plans are ready.
“We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Barnsley Healthcare Federation for their time, collaboration and continued commitment to this important project for our community.
“We look forward to sharing further updates in the weeks and months ahead.”
James Barker, CEO of Barnsley Healthcare Federation, told the Chronicle: “Barnsley Healthcare Federation has managed the GP Practice in Brierley for nearly ten years, and we remain committed to providing a surgery in Brierley.
|We are currently exploring all options to ensure we can continue to run a GP Practice in Brierley for our patients.
”As we develop our plans, we will continue to work with our patients, so they can have direct input into the future of the surgery.”
