PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP
MONDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local MP Alistair Strathern, representing the new constituency of Hitchin, has said a recent concerning CQC report into Larksfield GP surgery underlines need for local stakeholders to continue to work together to push for improvements from the medical group.
Larksfield Surgery Medical Group, who run the GP practices in Stotfold and Arlesey, was recently graded as ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following an inspection.
This comes as no surprise to local residents, who had regularly been in contact with Mr Strathern even before the election to highlight challenges with the surgery. Between the inspection and report release, Mr Strathern worked with the surgery, councillors and local stakeholders to hold the surgery to account for the issues patients were reporting. Together, they secured commitments to improve the triage system for appointments and to create a commitment to hire more GPs.
Following the report though, Mr Strathern is calling for further action to ensure patients are able to access a GP when they need one.
Alistair Strathern said:
“Even before being elected, the performance of the surgery has been on my radar, with far too many patients struggling to access a GP.
“I am glad that, working with local councillors and partners, we have been able to secure action, from improving the triage system to a commitment to hire more GPs.
“Whilst the inspection was carried out before these actions took place, its clear further improvements will be needed.
“I’ll be meeting with the CQC to hear first hand the evidence they uncovered in their inspection, which reinforces the clear calls from local patients for urgent improvements.
“I’m committed to continuing to work on a cross party basis with local partners to hold Larksfield to account for the delivering the improvements local patients are crying out for.”
Notes for Editors
You can see more about the CQC report here
Comments