Revealed: What could become of former Lake doctors' surgery

In a planning application to the Isle of Wight Council, applicant Mrs P. Nel is asking to change the use of the Lake branch of the Beech Grove Surgery, on Sandown Road, into a three-bed home.

The GP surgery, which had another branch in Brading, shut in March last year with more than 4,500 patients moved to other practices, as the doctors handed back their contract to the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group.

• Shock for patients in Brading and Lake as doctors give up their surgery contract
• GP surgery closure confirmed — 4,500 patients to be moved to other practices

The services were ended due to a failure to recruit GPs to the Island, despite a petition launched to save primary care outlets, and the significant costs to find other locations for the Lake branch.

• 'We need a local GP' — hundreds sign petition as Isle of Wight surgery looks set to close

With NHS England not taking ownership of the building, doctors sold the branch in December.

In planning documents, the building is described to be deteriorating rapidly as it has been vacant since March and not suitable for patient use as it would need a lot of modernisation to bring it up to current standards.

Plans indicate the front door of the building would be removed but the larger shop windows would remain.

To view the plans or comment on the application, 21/00123/FUL, you can view the council's planning portal. Comments will be accepted until March 5, 2021.