GPs locked out of surgery in West Kirby after unpaid rent row

Oct 26 2011 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

DOCTORS’ surgery staff were left operating from car boots opposite their practice after being locked out in a row over unpaid rent.

The landlord of West Kirby’s Sandstone Medical Centre agreed it was a “wholly unacceptable scenario for the patients” – but claimed he was left no choice.

The practice was set up in the Banks Road property two years ago. It has three doctors, four nurses and serves around 4,000 patients.

But those arriving for appointments on Monday found the building shut and staff across the road in cars intercepting them and trying to arrange alternative appointments.

They advised some to go to the GP out-of-hours service if they needed emergency treatment.

Surgery staff were handing letters to patients claiming their landlord Wayne Roberts had “attempted to force us in a new tenancy agreement demanding 2.6 times the rent we currently pay”.

The letter said: “He has now, in our legal advisors’ opinion, unlawfully taken possession of the building and is denying us access to the property.”

The surgery insisted patients would receive the care they need and the practice will continue, although it is understood it will be at a new location in West Kirby.

But Mr Roberts said there was no legal lease or tenancy agreement and his efforts to negotiate with the surgery had come to nothing.

Mr Roberts said: “No one has offered to pay any commercial rent – and I have given them opportunities to do so. What I am charging is an equitable rent. I am not a big bad landlord.”

He added: “As I continue to be responsible for the mortgage payments on the building, I was left with no option but to legally repossess it with the police in attendance.

A spokesman for NHS Wirral said: “The staff at Sandstone Medical Centre are unable to enter the premises.

“All medical equipment, IT equipment and medical records are inaccessible.

“ The practice remains open and patients do not need to register with a new doctor.”

“The practice continues to provide services and will deal with acute and urgent cases. Any routine and follow-up appointments will be rescheduled for next week.

“Patients who need transport to either an alternative premises or back home will be able to use a taxi that will be provided by the practice.

“Urgent repeat prescriptions can be dispensed from nearby pharmacies.”