Future of surgery remains uncertain (From Harrow Times)

Future of surgery remains uncertain

2:15pm Saturday 19th July 2008

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THE future of a Queensbury doctor's surgery will remain uncertain until at least October.

Harrow Primary Care Trust this week launched a consultation into the future of Mollison Way Medical Centre after it was abruptly shut down.

The health trust carted boxes of documents from the surgery, in Mollison Way, at the start of May after talks with Jena Goldsteine, the owner of the practice, broke down.

It has now been closed for more than ten weeks, with almost 3,000 patients having to travel to Honeypot Lane Medical Centre to see a doctor.

The trust has launched a consultation to find out what patients want to happen next, but that will not be completed until October 12.

Patients, including 483 children and 133 pensioners, have been outraged at the surgery's closure, complaining they now had serious difficulties getting medical treatment.

They are now facing a long wait before the future of their doctor's surgery has been decided.

The centre, which has been open for six years, shut down in acrimonious circumstances when the trust obtained a court order to seize the medical records.

The trust says Dr Goldsteine, currently suspended by the General Medical Council for deficient professional performance, refused to allow doctors to continue using the premises which she owns as a surgery.

However, Dr Goldsteine claims the trust went back on agreements, and notices have been posted in the window of her surgery attacking Dr Jacob Kurien, a doctor who moved from Mollison Way to Honeypot Lane to continue treating patients.

The notes accused him of "cheating the patients" and "running away from his responsibility", saying Dr Goldsteine had worked hard to keep him at the practice.

The building, where the practice was based, remains closed as the trust seeks views on its permanent future.

The two options being considered are for patients to join existing practices in the area, or for a new centre to be set up to take on patients.

To have your say, contact Harrow PCT Patient and Public Involvement Team on 0208 537 3170.

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