A ROW has erupted after a GP 'incorrectly' announced the neighbouring surgery would close and its doctor would retire.

As previously reported, Strouden Park Medical Centre, which is part of the Providence Surgery Group, based in Boscombe applied for planning permission to expand.

The public planning document in support of two-storey extensions stated ‘one of the two main reasons for the application’ is Woodlea House Surgery ‘just over a quarter of a mile to the east is to close in the first few months of 2018 because of GP retirement, and will no longer be available because of ownership restrictions.’

However Woodlea House Surgery said it has no plans to close - and Dr Rowland will not retire.

The Crantock Grove practice initially issued a notice online and in its doorway accusing the Daily Echo article for its ‘inaccuracies’. But it has since performed a U-turn and admitted the surgery was not notified about the Strouden Park Medical Centre planning application statement which they have now branded ‘inaccurate.’

A spokesman for Woodlea House Surgery said: “Earlier this month a planning application incorrectly stated that Woodlea House Surgery would be closing in early 2018 and Dr Rowland would be retiring. This information also appeared in the local media who ran a factual news piece based on the content of the application.

“We would also like to confirm that Dr Rowland has no immediate plans to retire and will continue to see patients. We recognise that patients may have concerns having read the news article and would ask them to contact the practice in the first instance via 01202 300903. The incorrect information has since been removed from the initial application.”

The planning application supporting statement, which is a public document on the Bournemouth Borough Council website which appeared on July 6, states if the proposed extensions go ahead it would ‘provide the additional space needed to cater for the patients already at Woodlea House.’

The document concludes: “Finally, as this development is urgently required bearing in mind the impending closure of the Woodlea House Surgery, the applicants would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss and if necessary amend the application to enable it to be the subject of a conditional planning approval within the prescribed period for the determination of applications.”

A spokesman for Strouden Park Medical Centre said: "We do apologise for this planning application inaccuracy and for any distress this may have caused to patients, staff and the practice GP Dr Andrew Rowland at Woodlea House Surgery.

"A request has been made that the Planning application statement be amended without any reference to Woodlea House Surgery."

As previously reported, a sustainability and transformation plan (STP) for Dorset, which forms part of a package of NHS reforms across the country proposes ‘super surgeries’ with up to 50,000 patients could be introduced.

In a draft report of the Primary Care Commissioning Strategy and Plan, Dorset CCG proposed a new ‘integrated GP model’ which could see the number of GP surgery sites more than halved in the county from 131 to between just 36 and 69.