Kingsclere health centre apologises over access survey 'misunderstanding'

Watership Down Health has moved to assuage concerns that it was closing after a survey sparked fears it was potentially being shut.

The practice, which has a centre in Kingsclere, sent out an access survey to patients with questions such as whether residents would “consider travelling to Basingstoke to access screening/health check services” if it was available, whether residents were more likely to need ‘on the day’ care in the next year and whether residents were more likely to need planned care to help them manage their health in the next year.

The parish council said on Facebook it had contacted the surgery directly after “misinformation” had been spreading through the village regarding the centre’s future.

In its response, practice manager Sarah Arnold said the centre had been asked to distribute the access survey to patients at the Government’s request, its purpose being “how patients access the services we provide from October 1, 2022".

The statement continued: “Watership Down Health will continue to provide GMS [general medical services] within the Kingsclere community and we regret that our survey has been misunderstood in this way.

“Please accept our apologies.”

It added that results from the survey will be published on the centre’s website in due course.