A new community campaign has been launched to safeguard the future of Church View Primary Care Centre (CVPCC) in Nantwich, amid growing concerns over the condition of the building.

There is also an ongoing dispute between GP leaseholders and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the site

The newly formed Church View PCC Community Action Nantwich (CAN) has been established by local patients and members of the Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) representing the three GP practices based at Church View.

The group has been created to ensure the voices of patients are heard and to support the continued provision of safe, high-quality primary care services for more than 27,000 patients across Nantwich and the surrounding area.

The dispute relates to the ICB's decision to withdraw payment for maintenance costs at CVPCC in Nantwich.

These costs have been covered by the ICB and its predecessor, the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), since the lease for the property began in 2008.

The group of GPs say that coverage of these costs by the ICB is legally binding, based on a document signed by the CCG in 2006.

This campaign follows increasing concerns about the condition of the building, including significant fire safety issues and other essential remedial works that the GP leaseholders and PPGs state the ICB is responsible for.

Despite repeated attempts by the GP practices to engage with the ICB, the group say that to date, negotiations between the GP practices and the ICB over funding for the remedial works have not taken place, even with the added support of Connor Naismith and other regional MPs.

The GP leaseholders have stated they have taken the difficult decision to return responsibility for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the building to the ICB whilst a wider contractual dispute remains unresolved.

Over recent months, Patient Participation Groups (PPGs), GP leaseholders and Community Action Nantwich, have worked closely with Connor Naismith MP, who has been actively supporting efforts to secure a constructive resolution.

Mr Naismith has met with representatives of the practices on a number of occasions, written to the Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, requested an urgent meeting with senior decision-makers,

He has now raised the matter with the Department of Health and Social Care.

Mr Naismith said: "I've been engaging with the GP practices and PPGs at Church View Primary Care Centre regarding the maintenance of the Centre since I was approached by them in June 2025.

"The issue of contractual obligations regarding the maintenance of the site is complex and I understand it has been ongoing for several months.

"While I can't comment on the legal obligations of either party, I certainly echo the thoughts of the PPG: communication with the ICB has been difficult to say the least.

"My overriding priority throughout has been to protect the continuity of care for patients, provide certainty and security for the dedicated staff and clinicians who work tirelessly at the practice, and ensure that the Integrated Care Board is held properly accountable for its actions.

"Patients deserve confidence that their local GP services are not being put at risk because of unresolved disputes behind the scenes.

"Just like the partners, I have sought urgent engagement with the ICB on this matter, but I do not believe they have acted in good faith.

"In my opinion, their responses to requests for meetings have too often been deliberately disingenuous, despite the seriousness and urgency of the situation facing both patients and healthcare professionals.

"That is simply not good enough when local healthcare provision is at stake. This has forced me to raise the issue with the department for Health and Social Care.

"Ultimately, the lack of meaningful engagement with the GP practices, the PPGs and elected representatives risks undermining confidence in the local health system and, more importantly, risks the quality and continuity of care that patients rightly expect and deserve."

The GP partners and leaseholders said: "We firmly believe that the Integrated Care Board has chosen to walk away from a legally binding agreement entered into by its predecessor organisation in 2006.

"Despite almost two years of trying to engage constructively and avoid conflict, we have reached a point where we can no longer continue with our hands tied behind our backs. None of us wanted this, but we cannot ignore our responsibilities to patients, staff and the safety of the building."

Representatives of the Patient Participation Groups/Community Action Nantwich said: "Patients are deeply concerned by what has unfolded over recent months.

"We have watched a dispute escalate to the point where services are already being reduced because clinical rooms have become unavailable, and we now face the real prospect of our local health centre closing if this cannot be resolved.

"We simply cannot stand by and allow 27,000 patients to become collateral damage.

"From a patient's perspective, this is incredibly difficult to understand.

"We have a government rightly talking about shifting care from hospitals into communities, with their 10-year plan, yet our local GP practices are struggling to keep vital clinical rooms open because of unresolved maintenance issues. Patients will quite reasonably ask how this situation has been allowed to develop.

"This feels incredibly penny-wise and pound-foolish. Every patient who cannot be seen promptly in general practice risks placing greater pressure on already stretched hospital services. Investing in safe, functioning primary care is not a cost, it's one of the best investments the NHS can make.

"This campaign is about accountability. We want meaningful engagement, we want the agreements that enabled Church View Primary Care Centre to be built honoured, and above all we want our community to have confidence that its local NHS will protect this vital service.

"If meaningful progress is not forthcoming, we will continue to raise awareness and ensure the voices of patients are heard. This campaign has one simple objective: to ensure that 27,000 patients do not lose access to the safe, sustainable primary care services that every community should be able to rely upon."

The Community Action Group has now begun engaging with local stakeholders, including elected representatives, local councillors, faith leaders and community organisations, and says it will continue to keep residents and patients informed as the situation develops.

The group has also welcomed the support shown by local Patient Participation Groups and thanked those across the community who have already helped as the campaign gathers momentum.

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