Boxford Surgery’s future to be decided in early 2025 after public consultation period concludes

The future of a village GP surgery will be decided early next year, after hundreds of people submitted their views on plans to consolidate services at a neighbouring town practice.

The Hadleigh Boxford Group Practice concluded its six-week consultation on Sunday, on proposals which could see Boxford Mill Surgery in Church Street close down.

It has been proposed to move the village’s healthcare services to the practice’s other location, Hadleigh Health Centre, which partners say is a more fit-for-purpose facility.

Approximately 350 pieces of feedback were submitted during the consultation period, in addition to a public meeting at Boxford Village Hall – attended by more than 100 people – at the beginning of October.

Following its conclusion, practice partners confirmed that they will make a final decision in the early part of 2025.

Dr Iain Lyons, partner at Hadleigh Boxford Group Practice, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts with us, and we very much appreciate it.

“What people tell us is important in helping us reaching the most appropriate decision that will ensure safe, quality primary care services for the future.”

Currently, the Boxford surgery provides four basic GP sessions and two blood clinics each week.

Practice partners have highlighted the decline in the number of appointments offered at the site in recent years, as a major factor in their consolidation plans.

They also claim that it would require significant investment, if it were to update the village surgery to meet modern standards.

As a consequence, if their proposals are approved, the building would be shut, and all GP appointments and blood tests in Boxford will instead take place at the Hadleigh medical centre in Market Place.

However, at the public meeting earlier this month, residents voiced concerns about the quality of transport links between Boxford and Hadleigh, and the difficulty this could create for them accessing health services.