HEALTH bosses have come under fire after a popular physiotherapist who provided services to GPs for 22 years had his contract cancelled.

Mr Andrew Kaye, who treated patients at Redbank Group Practice in Radcliffe, had his contract ended by the NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) earlier this month.

Some of his patients have been angered by the decision while a doctor at Radcliffe Primary Care Centre has also criticised the move.

NHS Bury CCG have defended their decision, saying they want to ensure a more equitable approach for all patients.

The issue was raised at last Wednesday's meeting of the Radcliffe Township Forum by local resident Mr John Grayson. He said: "Mr Kaye has provided physiotherapy services to local GP practices within the NHS for 22 years. During this long period he has never received a criticism for incorrect or bad practice. Mr Kaye received only three months' notice of cancellation, which is short considering his length of service."

At the meeting, Dr Stephen Flascher, based at Radcliffe Primary Care Centre, underlined his disappointment. He said: "This is an extremely damaging decision which was taken without any consultation. Everyone is very upset by this."

Cllr Rishi Shori, Bury Council deputy leader, said the move had caused a "great deal of concern to local residents and current patients."

He continued: "The lack of consultation around these proposals is also worrying and myself and fellow Radcliffe councillors will seek to hold the local CCG to account."

The forum resolved to refer the matter to Bury Council's health scrutiny committee and health and wellbeing board.

After the meeting, Dr Kiran Patel, chairman and clinical lead for NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), told the Radcliffe Times: “Historically, access to community based physiotherapy services has not been equitable for all Bury patients. This has meant that whist some patients in the south and west of Bury have had access to community based physiotherapy, the vast majority of Bury patients have only had the option to access an appointment at hospital.

“Our clinical cabinet agreed earlier in the year that access to physiotherapy services should be equitable for all patients in Bury, and whilst plans were put in place to deliver community based clinics at a choice of community locations including Radcliffe, it was agreed to serve notice on the private physiotherapist who delivered the clinic from Redbank Group practice.

"The practice and the private provider were given notice of this decision in the summer, and the contract ended at the start of September. Whilst details of the choice of community based clinics are firmed up, patients from Redbank continue to have access to physiotherapy services at Fairfield Hospital, in addition to a clinic run from Radcliffe Primary Care Centre.

“We are now at the point of finalising arrangements to ensure a more equitable approach for all patients. We expect these details to be finalised in the coming weeks, at which point, patients will have a choice of accessing physiotherapy in one of a number of community locations right across the borough, or at hospital if they prefer.”