Dr Oliver to leave Meads surgery

Story updated: Thursday, December 9, 2010, 10.36am.

Uckfield GP Dr Jim Oliver is due to leave the Meads surgery on Friday and team up with Buxted doctors in the New Year.

The news was revealed on Monday by campaigners running the Save Dr Oliver group on Facebook and confirmed by NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald in a statement released yesterday, and updated today, which says:

"The partners at the Meads Surgery wish to announce the voluntary retirement of Dr Jim Oliver from the practice with effect from 16th September 2010.

"Dr. Oliver will be staying on in a locum capacity until close of business on Friday 10th December 2010.

"The Meads Surgery, under Dr Walbrook and partners, will continue to deliver high quality care to its patients.

"Dr Oliver will soon be starting work with the Buxted GP Practice and will be seeing patients at Uckfield Hospital, as well as at the Buxted Practice's sites at Buxted and East Hoathly.

"NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald would like to pay tribute to Dr Oliver's work, dedication and care for his patients during his time at the Meads Surgery and to wish him all success and fulfilment in his new appointment."

One of the group administrators Bridget Matthews said on the group’s Facebook wall on Monday night that Dr Oliver will take a break over Christmas and the New Year and be back in surgery on January 4.

“Thank you to the Buxted doctors for their support. It may be a difficult, but exciting time for all of us, doctors and patients,” says Bridget.

It has also been announced on the group’s Facebook page that there will be an opportunity, for patients wishing to follow Dr Oliver to his next practice, to fill in transfer forms on Saturday, December 11, between 10am and 1pm at the Civic Centre.

The Facebook group was set up because of concern about the unexplained departure, in September, of Dr Oliver from the Meads surgery. He was back at work a week later “pending the outcome of a partnership dispute”.