Surgery closure in line with policy - ombudsman

A government review into the closure of a GP surgery in Leicester which campaigners say was "undemocratic" has concluded that the decision was "broadly" in line with policy.

The surgery in The Common in Evington closed in December 2024 after the practice made the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB) aware that the landlord was selling the premises.

Campaigners said the loss had made a "huge impact" on patients, many of whom were left two buses away from their closest surgery.

A spokesperson for the ICB said the decision to close the surgery was made "in line with its contractual rights".

After the facility closed, campaigners asked the government's Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to review the decision.

John McFadyen, founder of the Retain Our Services in Evington group, argued that shutting the surgery, which was a branch of St Elizabeth's Medical Centre in Netherhall Road, was "undemocratic".

"The decision was made before the consultation," he said. "All I want them to do is rap the ICB over the knuckles. You can't just run roughshod over all of us poor people."

In correspondence seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, ombudsman inspectors admitted the ICB "did get some things wrong" in its management of the consultation but it did not have an impact on the final decision.

In March 2026, a spokesperson from the watchdog said it would consider reviewing the original conclusion, but on 10 July, inspectors backed their original findings and closed the case.

They said: "Our view is that the process was carried out broadly in line with the relevant legal and policy framework and I have not seen information that causes me to question our caseworker's conclusions.

"I am sorry we could not help you in the way that you wanted but you have now reached the end of our process on this complaint."

McFadyen said the only way to continue to challenge the decision would be to launch a judicial review – but at a cost of up to £250,000 it was not a realistic route for the campaign.

A spokesperson for the integrated care board previously said: "The decision to close the Evington branch surgery at The Common was taken by the GP practice, in line with its contractual rights under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, and influenced by the landlord's intention to sell the premises.

"While the closure itself was practice‑led, the ICB is legally required to engage with patients and stakeholders where access to primary medical services is affected.

"That engagement was focused on understanding impact and identifying mitigation, not on reconsidering the closure decision.

"The ICB notes the ombudsman's report and its conclusion that the issues raised did not affect the overall consultation outcome or the ICB's final conclusions.

"In considering impact, the ICB noted that there are two GP practices within one mile of The Common, and a further four within 1.5 miles, meaning alternative primary care options are available locally for patients who choose to register elsewhere."

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