Health
Consultation on the closure of Credenhill Surgery
Response to Credenhill Parish Council’s letter to HMG following ongoing closure of Credenhill Surgery:
Thank you for your letter dated 22nd November 2023 in relation to the Hereford Medical Group (HMG) branch surgery at Credenhill. Your letter is timely as we have recently been reviewing the options in relation to the branch site at Credenhill.
You will, no doubt, be aware of the history of the site at Credenhill which was formerly a branch surgery of Quay House Medical Centre and up until the pandemic, operated for 5 half days per week. As part of the review, we have considered the viability of the branch surgery and have concluded that we must commence a consultation on the closure of the branch surgery with patients and stakeholders. In making this decision, we have considered the following:
The premises is not fit for purpose –
o it is a remote one consulting room and one nurse treatment room premises which is a converted shop unit. All other HMG premises are purpose built.
o The clinical environment needs significant investment to bring it up to modern standards.
– Whilst it is currently being used for storage of patient records, the fact that the premises is not accessible to the community is an issue which needs to be resolved.
– The surgery does not meet disability access requirements and there are limited options to change this.
– It is potentially safety risk having unwell patients at a remote site
– There is no dispensary at the site.
– To keep it open would result in a reduction in service at other sites.
I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that there are no plans to change the boundary for HMG and all patients registered with the practice will continue to be able to access healthcare at our other sites.
The consultation that we have launched today will run until 24th December 2023, following which we will review the responses and finalise any decision. If the Practice concludes to proceed with closure, then a formal application will be made to the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (HWICB).
The consultation will be available online at: https://forms.office.com/r/SZrdPjexAs or using the QR code below:

This information will be available on our website and on our social media pages. In addition, along with this letter to the Parish Council, we will be writing to the council, MPs and other local stakeholders. Paper copies of the consultation survey will also be available at all of our other sites. We are also hoping that the Credenhill Community News will publish details of the consultation.
I note from your correspondence, along with a second letter from the pharmacist based at Kington, that there might be some interest in a change of use. In this regard I will be writing to the pharmacist to explain how this might proceed. However, I would note that it is not within our gift to authorise any such application which would need to be made initially to the ICB.
In relation to the development of a new site at Credenhill, this is something which would need wider system involvement as whilst s106 monies might be made available, these only contribute towards capital costs with ongoing costs being picked up via HWICB.
I hope that this letter provides sufficient information to the Parish Council and assurance that we are keen to progress with plans to ensure that the premises is brought back in to community use. I look forward to receiving any comments as part of the consultation, but if there are any further questions then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Defib & Emergency First Aid Training
We are pleased to confirm that in conjunction with the Herefordshire Heartstart Charity we have arranged 3 free defib & emergency first aid training sessions at Credenhill Community Hall in November. These are aimed at people who live or work in Credenhill:
Wednesday November 15th 2pm to 4pm – 12 places
Wednesday November 22nd 7pm to 9pm – 12 places
Wednesday November 29th 7pm to 9pm – 12 places
You can book your place throught the Eventbright listings :
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/credenhill-parish-council-73559153733
Free Home Energy Checks and Warm Home Packs
Who: Age UK Hereford and Localities are delivering the Government Household Support Fund supported by Herefordshire Council
What: 325 Free home energy checks and warm home packs for the over 50s in Herefordshire and 125 free warm home packs for over 50s in social housing.
When: From 12th December 2022 to 31st March 2023
How: Contact us on 0333 0066 299 or email contact@ageukhl.org or write to us at home energy check, Age UK Hereford and Localities, Unit 10 Northern Lights Business Park, Clinton Road, Leominster HR5 0SW. or www.ageuk.org.uk/hereordandloclaities.
Home Energy Check
We are offering a Free Home Energy Check to 325 home owners or private renters in Herefordshire, aged 50yrs or over, who are struggling to heat their home.
The Home Energy Check measures include;
- LED lightbulbs
- Reflective radiator panels
- Chimney balloons
- Around door insulation
- Letter box brushes
- Timers
- Night lights
- A Warm Home pack (contents as below)
Free Warm Home Packs
In addition to the Warm Home Packs that will be offered to all clients having a Home Energy Check, we have a further 150 packs to give away to people aged 50yrs or over, living in supported or Housing Association accommodation, who may not be heating their homes adequately, due to concerns about their bills.
The Warm Home packs all contain;
- Fleece blanket
- Thermal cup
- Torch
- Hat
- Gloves
- Power pack for a mobile phone
- Hot water bottle
- And more
Referral process
To refer a client for a Home Energy Check or a Warm Home Pack, email contact@ageukhl.org or telephone 0333 0066 299 or write to Home Energy Checks, Age UK Hereford and Localities, Unit 10, Northern Lights Business Park, Clinton Rd, Leominster Herefordshire HR6 0SW.
Help improve health and wellbeing in Herefordshire
Dear residents
Herefordshire Council would like to hear from you about how we can improve health and wellbeing in Herefordshire.
We are working with health services and other organisations to develop a strategy and actions to improve health and wellbeing in the county over the next 10 years, and we are asking residents for their views about the things that they think are most important.
From information already available we have identified a number of issues that are most affecting the health and wellbeing of residents in our county and from these we have suggested some potential priorities for action, or for additional action where there is already work being done.
But we really want to know what your views are and about the things that you think we should be doing.
Feedback from this consultation will be available to view early in 2023 and it will help decide the priorities and content of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy which is due to be published in the Spring of 2023.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and we would greatly appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes to complete our survey which you will find by clicking the link below.
For more information and to share your views and ideas, see: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/hwbs