I AM concerned about the limited access to a GP practice in Oakworth, part of the Modality Partnership.

Prior to the Covid restrictions in March, 2020, the Oakworth surgery was a fully functioning GP practice – open five days a week, with two GPs available, plus practice nurses, etc.

It was closed in accordance with Government-imposed restrictions in 2020, but failed to reopen once the restrictions were lifted in 2021.

Patients from Oakworth could only be seen by a GP or nurse either at the Haworth surgery or the Kilmeny practice.

In late 2022, the Oakworth surgery finally reopened, but only on Monday and Wednesday mornings. However this limited service has proved unreliable, for example it failed to open on Wednesday, January 18, because a GP had “phoned in sick”.

Statistics show that Oakworth has an older population than average; there is only a limited bus service to Haworth and no direct bus service to Kilmeny from the village, for residents needing to see a GP or nurse.

Without a car or the finances to afford a taxi, it proves near impossible for pensioners or those with mobility problems to see a GP in person or make use of other community medical provision, particularly in snowy or icy conditions.

This is extremely frustrating when there is a fully-equipped surgery, unused, within walking distance; I wonder how many excess deaths there have been in Oakworth since a reliable, regular and accessible GP provision has been withdrawn?

I appreciate the past three years have been challenging for us all but surely it’s time for a return to an efficient and accessible primary care service for the village of Oakworth?

Linda Barraclough, Oakworth

* A spokesperson for the Modality Partnership says: “At a time when small GP practices are closing at the rate of one a week in the UK, we have committed to keeping Oakworth Surgery open – all be it with a limited service at present.

“GP numbers continue to decline in England, with 26,714 whole time equivalent in November 2022 – which is a 1.3 per cent decrease on numbers since November the previous year.

“Despite this, the total number of appointments offered in general practice has increased by over 1.5 million in October 2022 compared with October 2021.

“It is worth noting the local Modality Partnership stepped in to keep Oakworth Surgery open after the previous GP retired.

“Haworth Medical Practice is within two miles – a modern purpose-built medical centre where we can locate a wide range of skilled staff and services offering great care to the local population in a building fit for purpose.

“The recent CQC inspection rated our local Airedale Modality GP services as outstanding for the first time ever – a testament to the staff team which has gone above and beyond throughout the most difficult time for health services in the last 70 years.

“Granted we don’t get everything right; we do have a plan to invest in improving services for patients locally.

“We are committed to using the site for the foreseeable future and we plan to move other services, offering a wider range of healthcare appointments to make this more convenient for our Oakworth population.

“We are planning some local consultation with patients in the near future, so watch out for details of how you can get involved.”

** Email your letters to alistair.shand@keighleynews.co.uk