LANGBANK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA – MAY 2025
WEDNESDAY 14th MAY 2025
Meeting to be held in the
LANGBANK COMMUNITY CENTRE, MIDDLEPENNY ROAD @ 7.30pm
Start and welcome
1. Acceptance of last meeting minutes
2. Planning & Village updates LOCAL PLACE PLAN – Funding application
GALA DAY
CLEAN UP DAY
Link to Map of current planning applications
3. PROPOSED CLOSURE DOCTOR’S SURGERY
JD – collated available info, text below added to Facebook & LCC webpage
PROPOSAL to print and display on village notice boards, circulate this text as hard copy to all
households in Langbank, share with CC members and any others in village and ask them to reshare.
Possibly attending meeting : Dr Hector McDonald , Clinical director INVERCLYDE HSCP – part of the
decision making process and consultation of GP practise’s proposal to close Langbank branch – see
email below
4. Emailed invitation to practice manager at THE NEW SURGERY to attend meeting.
Local Cllr updates and monthly reports
5. Village website and Facebook updates. (Omitted to prioritise)
6. 7. Village Groups Updates (Omitted to prioritise)
- Community Centre
- LSR /MUGA
- Church redevelopment
Transport Concerns (Omitted to prioritise)
- A8 roundabout
- Speeding
- Lack of public transport
- Renfrewshire Villages Pedestrian Road Safety project response from RC
8. AOB***PROPOSED CLOSURE of LANGBANK SURGERY***
Please take time to read and take action if you are concerned about the impact on either
yourself or other service users.
The New Surgery in Kilmacolm has made a request to Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and
Inverclyde HSCP to close their branch surgery and attached dispensary in Langbank.
The request triggers a consultation process. The Practice are required to consult with their patients
over a 3 month period (which takes us to near the end of July) and the HSCP are required to consult
with other interested parties . In this case Elected officials, GP practices and Pharmacies and the
local Community Council.
The practice has 3600 patients and around 900 of those use the Langbank branch surgery. The
majority of patients in Langbank are registered with the New Surgery although a small number of
residents are registered with GP's in Port Glasgow (approx 10%).
The information shared directly by the surgery to patients is a requirement as part of this process and
includes a document which explains the reasons behind the request and the proposed changes and
mitigations they intend to put in place. It also notes that the practice still intends to continue to
provide care to their Langbank patients from the main base in Kilmacolm.
Some residents, although a bit disappointed, will take a pragmatic approach and accept the
proposal, which is absolutely their right. However for many there are significant concerns around the
loss of another vital service in the village, particularly as the alternatives to staying with the New
Surgery practice are also far from ideal.
Concerns which have been raised centre around two main themes:
• Lack of public transport
There are no direct public transport links between Langbank and Kilmacolm and therefore for anyone
who doesn’t drive, or perhaps is unable to drive due to current health conditions, the journey to see a
doctor becomes difficult and involves a train and bus journey – based on current timetable the
shortest journey time (assuming you can run between Port Glasgow train station and bus depot in 8
minutes and your appointment time matches with public transport times!) is approximately 30
minutes, however more realistically (depending on time of day) you would need to leave Langbank AT
LEAST one hour ahead of your appointment time, which for someone who is ill, may be very difficult.
The document from the New Surgery does state that housebound patients will continue to receive
appropriate appointments, but for everyone else, if you don’t or can’t drive their suggested alternative
is as follows:
If you feel you cannot travel to Kilmacolm, you may wish to register with another GP practice closer to
home. As long as you live within their practice’s boundary, you can.
This statement shows that the New Surgery are aware that public transport is a big issue and that the
only alternative for someone without a car may indeed be to move practice. This could be very
detrimental to some of our residents, particularly those undergoing treatment for conditions which
require regular appointments.
In addition to the lack of public transport there are concerns from residents who would not wish to
have to drive to Kilmacolm particularly during the winter months.• Concerns around alternative practices.
Our two nearest alternative surgeries would be based either in Port Glasgow or Bishopton, with these
practices already have high patient numbers. The impact of these practices having to absorb a high
number of additional patients could be problematic and indeed would have a potentially detrimental
impact on their ability to provide an efficient and timely service. Especially at a time when there is a
spotlight on GP practices and the pressure they are under to reduce waiting times for appointments
and provide an efficient and effective service.
It has been reported that some new residents in Bishopton have had to register elsewhere due to
existing pressure on this service.
The practice in Port Glasgow is also a busy service with no guarantees that they will be able to
accommodate large numbers of new patients.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
Langbank Community Council will provide feedback as part of the consultation, however they are
only one voice. It is vital that each family impacted by the proposal has their voice heard. To do so
you must:
• Complete the questionnaire from the New Surgery
You should have received one through the post OR a text from the New Surgery with a link to this.
Alternatively these were provided on previous post.
It is advisable for each family member to complete their own survey and should you require further
copies these are available at the surgery in Langbank.
In addition to completing the survey you could write to the Surgery to provide additional feedback or if
you have specific questions you wish to have answered.
• Contact the Inverclyde HSCP
They will ultimately provide necessary permissions for New Surgery to close Langbank Surgery. There
is a dedicated email address to deal with the Langbank consultation, therefore please email
langbankconsultation@inverclyde.gov.uk
The clinical director of Inverclyde HSCP has indicated that he will attend our next Community Council
meeting, however even if you are able to attend it is essential that those with concerns email at above
address.
• Contact our MP, Alison Taylor.
One of our residents attended a meeting with Alison to present community concerns. Alison is keen
to be supportive and will endeavour to look further into the situation, indicating that she would try to
organise a meeting with representatives from the New Surgery. However it is important that Alison
hears from as many residents as possible, with their individual concerns so please take time to email
our MP at alison.taylor.mp@parliament.uk
• Contact our MSP
Our MSP Natalie Don has also been made aware of the situation and is also keen to support – once
again our MSP needs to hear from individuals so please direct emails to her at Natalie.Don-
Innes.msp@parliament.scot
• Contact our local councillors
All three of our local councillors have been made aware of the situation and are indeed keen to offer
support so please include them in any of the communication you make. As previously mentioned allof our elected members will be included within the consultation and therefore it is vital that they are
aware of how people are feeling and any concerns which they may have.
Contact details are:
cllr.fiona.airlie-nicolson@renfrewshire.gov.uk
cllr.james.maclaren@renfrewshire.gov.uk
cllr.colin.mcculloch@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• Make sure your neighbours are aware
The New Surgery should have informed all patients, however there were issues with some of the
letters, therefore please reach out and make sure people are aware.
The majority of patients aren’t on the Facebook page and therefore please share with neighbours and
mention it at any village group which you are part of.
This proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of the Community Council, at 7.30pm, on
Wednesday 14th May in the Village Hall. These are open meetings with all welcome. Following this
meeting the CC will make their submission to the Inverclyde HSCP.From: Hector MacDonald
Subject: Consultation on the request by the New Surgery (Kilmacolm) to close their Langbank branch surgery and
dispensary
Dear Ms Doherty
I am contacting you in your role as secretary of the Langbank Community Council.
The New Surgery in Kilmacolm has made a request to Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and Inverclyde
HSCP to close their branch surgery and attached dispensary in Langbank.
The request triggers a consultation process. The Practice are required to consult with their patients over a 3
month period and the HSCP are required to consult with other interested parties . In this case Elected officials,
GP practices and Pharmacies and the local Community Council.
I enclose the documentation being sent out by the practice to their patients the request and the proposed changes and mitigations they intend to put in place.
which explains the reasons behind
The practice has 3600 patients and around 900 of those use the Langbank branch surgery. The majority of
patients in Langbank are registered with the New Surgery although a small number of residents are registered
with GP's in Port Glasgow (approx 10%).As you will see from the attached documents the practice still intends
to continue to provide care to their Langbank patients from the main base in Kilmacolm.
I'm happy to answer any questions or provide more information on request. I'd be grateful if any formal
feedback could go to our dedicated email address of langbankconsultation@inverclyde.gov.uk
The consultation period will close 3 months from the date of this email.
Dr Hector Macdonald
Inverclyde HSCP
Clinical Director
Attachments Below : Closure letter, FAQs & Langbank Surgery Consultation Questionnaire_________________________________________________________________________________
24th April 2025
Dear Patient
We are writing to you with news related to our Langbank Branch Surgery.
You will be aware that we have been working a temporary reduced opening hours
service at Langbank since Monday 21st October 2024.
We have been monitoring and reviewing the situation and are having ongoing
difficulties in continuing to resource two sites. We have therefore, reached the hard
decision to seek permission from the HSCP to consolidate service provision at our
main premises in Kilmacolm and close The Langbank Surgery and dispensary.
We wish to reassure you that our commitment to provide you with high quality patient
care will continue from our Kilmacolm surgery or if you are registered housebound,
we will continue to provide ANP or GP led visits to you at home.
In order to assist in the wide ranging consultation process that is required prior to
such a decision being approved the Practice are undertaking a survey of those
patients who are registered at Langbank. This will give you the opportunity to make
your views known on the proposal to close The Langbank Surgery. Your views and
suggestions will help us to overcome any challenges that our patients may
experience as a result of the closure.
The consultation process will include your MP, MSP, Councillors, Community
Pharmacies and Local Community Groups.
We would encourage you as a patient or a carer to complete and return the attached
questionnaire.The consultation process will be open until 25th July 2025.
Please see our attached FAQs regarding this decision and hope this answers any
questions you may have.
Yours sincerely,
The New SurgeryLangbank Surgery Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why can’t things stay the same?
Closing the Langbank Surgery branch will support the Practice to continue to deliver
services to their patients and ensure a sustainable practice and workforce in the long
term.
What do the changes to the Langbank surgery mean for me and/or my family?
All existing patients will remain registered with The New Surgery. This means that
you will access all your health care needs from the Kilmacolm premises.
The practice remains committed to delivering Health Care Services to all their
registered patients either via telephone, or face to face consultations from Kilmacolm
or if you are registered housebound, we will continue to provide ANP or GP led visits
to you at home.
It is already difficult to get an appointment, surely this will impact further with
all New Surgery patients having to attend the one site in Kilmacolm?
The practice is not reducing the number of appointments available to patients or
reducing staffing levels. The practice anticipates that having the same resources, but
over less sites, will allow them to manage patient demand more efficiently.
Kilmacolm has adequate consulting rooms to manage the increase of appointments
being delivered.
Will there be more doctors and nurses available at Kilmacolm?
Yes, the clinical staff from the Langbank branch site will be working in Kilmacolm.
Providing care from one site will support the practice to have a greater range of
clinical expertise available under the same roof, enhancing patient care and safety
and providing better continuity of care for patients.
Doctors will save time travelling between the two sites as well as saving time dealing
with the dispensing element of Langbank. This means that we will be able to provide
more clinical appointments.
Why are you closing the Langbank Dispensary?
This is a historical arrangement usually made for rural practices a long distance from
local pharmacies. We are the only dispensing practice in Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Health Board and do not have access to the same range of stock as Community
Pharmacies often resulting in paper prescriptions rather than dispensed drugs. The
closure would allow our GPs to give more time to patient appointments rather than
the time consuming processes involved in running a dispensing business.
It will not be easy for me to collect my prescriptions from Kilmacolm.
Arrangements are already in place to allow patients to order repeat prescriptions via
our telephone script line or on-line. A number of local pharmacies already collect
prescriptions from Kilmacolm and we anticipate this would be the case for your
prescriptions. You would then have the option of home delivery or collection from a
local pharmacy of your choice during pharmacy opening hours which are longer and
more flexible than the current Langbank dispensary hours.Langbank Surgery Consultation Questionnaire
The New Surgery are consulting with patients and interested parties to propose to permanently
close our surgery at Langbank. The purpose of the Consultation is to understand and consider all
views on the proposal and fully understand what the impacts of the change may be.
The letter and additional Consultation documents have been sent to all registered households and
we ask that you read these documents to understand the reasons for the proposal before you
complete the Questionnaire.
1. Please tick one of the boxes below: I am...
o A patient
o A carer/relative/friend responding on behalf of a patient
o Prefer not to say
o Other
2. Which surgery do you normally go to for your appointments?
o Langbank
o Kilmacolm
o I attend both
o Not applicable
3. How often in the last 12 months have you visited Langbank for an appointment or
service?
o Never
o 1-3 times
o 4-6 times
o 7-9 times
o 10+
o Not applicable
4. How would you normally get to Langbank Surgery?
o Car
o Walk
o Train
o Lift with someone else
o Mobility scooter
o Not applicable
o Other
5. In the event of Langbank surgery closing how would you access GP services?
o Attend Kilmacolm site by car
o Attend Kilmacolm site by public transport
o Attend Kilmacolm site by other means
o Register at a different GP Practice
o Other
If other, please specify6. Thinking about the proposed amalgamation of services at Kilmacolm, what impact do you
consider this will have on you?
Little or no impact
Positive
Negative
Not sure
Prefer not to say
7. Please tell us the reason for your answer:
8. How did you become aware of this patient consultation?
Letter or text message from the practice
Information in one of the New Surgery premises
A friend or family member told me
A voluntary/community organisation informed me
Newspaper
Social media (Facebook/Twitter)
NHS or Council website
Other
If other, please specify
9. Is there anything else you would like us to know or consider regarding this proposal?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this Questionnaire. If you need more copies please
ask at either site.
Please submit or return your Questionnaire to either of The New Surgery sites by the 25th July
2025.
If you wish to leave your details please do so:
Name…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address…………………………………………………………………………………………
Number of individuals within the household this response applies to……………..