Statement from Dr A Ahmed to the PPG – Coven Memorial Hall and Coven Surgery – 14th Nov 2025
This statement provides a factual summary of the history, correspondence, and present position regarding the reinstatement of a surgery in Coven. It reflects Brewood Medical Practice’s engagement with the Trustees of Coven Memorial Hall and the current proposals now under consideration.
1. Origins of the proposal
In late 2021, Mrs Margaret Wooton, on behalf of Coven Memorial Hall, approached me to discuss the possibility of creating a new surgery to the rear of the Hall to support local residents. The Practice welcomed this initiative and agreed to explore it in good faith.
After seeking legal advice and appointing a solicitor to allow this project to proceed correctly, I arranged for another solicitor that I would pay for to act on behalf of the trustees. I understand they felt that they could not trust a solicitor I had suggested – clearly mistrust from the memorial hall trustees was present from the outset for reasons that I am unable to explain. Nonetheless, whatever had prejudiced their views of me, the trustees sought advice and appointed an alternative solicitor. In the process they realised that they could not yet sell land due to not actually having the land registered to them, which created significant impediments to the original plan.
2. From sale to lease
During 2022 and into 2023, the Trustees shifted their position and suggested that rather than a sale, the Practice might lease a strip of land beside the brook to build a surgery.
Following further advice, the Trustees stated they would need to reconstitute as an incorporated charity before any transaction could proceed, which led to further delay. When discussions resumed, they suggested leasing the same strip of land for a term of seven years.
A permanent building on that land would require substantial groundworks, possibly pile-driven foundations, to be safe. When I explained that a seven-year lease was not viable for such an investment, a Trustee replied that we could “take the building with you” at the end of the term. This remark came across as lacking an understanding of the implications to us at the least, but also suggested that, knowing that in such an eventuality, we would have no choice but to leave behind our investment. The site is also unsuitable for a temporary structure, such as a Portakabin, without significant groundworks, because of the subsidence and ground movement risk.
Through 2023 there had been communications from us to the trustees requesting information about the current facility, including particular concerns around the use of RAAC in the roof. We found that there was little to no progress on these matters. We understood that the trustees and the hall had never had to do these things before but given the increasing regulatory requirements we needed this information. However, there was slow progress on the matters.
3. Condition of the existing clinical rooms
The rooms within the Hall had long fallen short of required standards. In 2024, after CQC and ICB infection-control visits, they were deemed unfit for clinical use. Issues included non-compliant flooring and walls, lack of a clinical sink, and poor layout. Despite repeated correspondence, the Trustees have not undertaken the upgrades needed to meet NHS and CQC standards.
4. Correspondence through 2025
From January 2025 onward, I wrote several times to the Trustees:
- 31 January 2025: Requesting confirmation of what refurbishment they were prepared to fund.
- 17 March 2025: Confirming their indication of willingness to consider works and noting that the rent charged remained roughly double the NHS valuation.
- 2 April 2025: Advising that I had sought guidance from the ICB and would share their response.
- 12 May 2025: Setting out the specific works required for compliance and proposing, as an alternative, a modular Portakabin-type building on the Hall’s hardstanding, fully funded by the Practice partners.
- 31 July 2025: Writing again, copied to the local MP, after learning that the Trustees had met him without involving the Practice. That letter restated the two viable routes forward: refurbish the existing rooms or allow a modular facility on site.
5. Engagement of the Trustees
Despite clear proposals, the Trustees have:
- Declined to commit to refurbishing the rooms.
- Objected to use of hardstanding for a modular unit.
- Offered only short and insecure lease terms.
- Continued to charge rent roughly double the NHS valuation while the facility remains unused.
- Held meetings about the service without involving the Practice.
- Publicly described me as “difficult to work with”, a comment now withdrawn and apologised for, during the most recent PPG meeting.
- Interpreted legitimate due-diligence and clarity-seeking as me/the Practice “changing demands” or shifting expectations, as stated by a Trustee during the PPG meeting.
Throughout, the partners have acted professionally and transparently, seeking only to restore safe, compliant care for Coven residents.
6. Engagement with the ICB and local context
The ICB initially questioned the need for a Coven surgery, given its proximity to Brewood. I successfully argued for retaining local provision.
I also clarified that any future Section 106 developer funding for healthcare facilities would flow through the ICB, and that if such public funds were used to upgrade the Hall, the Trustees’ rent would likely be abated for a time.
7. Rental position
While the Memorial Hall facility has been closed, the Trustees have continued to receive rent that is double the NHS-assessed rate for the space. In other words, half of the rent from the ICB/NHS and half from the partners. There has been continued unilateral increase in rent that the partners have subsidised.
These additional funds, paid in good faith, could reasonably have been reinvested by the Trustees to help bring the rooms to standard.
8. Current position and proposals (November 2025)
To allow services to resume, two realistic options remain:
- Refurbish the existing rooms
The Trustees undertake the necessary works to meet NHS and CQC standards. The Practice would then resume use at the NHS-assessed rent level. - Approve a modular building funded by the partners
The partners of Brewood Medical Practice will personally fund a modular Portakabin-type unit at no cost to the public for its purchase or siting.- Preferred location: existing hardstanding.
- Alternative: grass area in front of the Hall with a lightweight linked waiting/reception area.
- The structure would connect to Hall utilities under a service-charge arrangement and be fully removable – we would expect the charge to be minimal and proportionate.
These proposals were outlined in an open online post published on 11 November 2025, titled “Setting the Record Straight.” The proposal for the alternative siting of a potential portacabin was formally provided to the Trustees for the first time during today’s PPG meeting via Mrs Lorna Jones, verbally.
9. Summary and next steps
The Trustees initially invited and later withdrew from a proposal to sell land for a surgery; they offered an insecure lease on a potential subsidence-risk plot; have not refurbished the existing rooms; and have continued to collect rent above NHS valuation while declining practical solutions.
By contrast, The Partners at Brewood Medical Practice has remained open, constructive, and community-focused, covering rental shortfalls personally, engaging with the ICB, and offering to self-fund a modular solution at no public cost.
The partners remain ready to proceed immediately once the Trustees confirm agreement on premises use and compliance requirements. We continue to encourage genuine engagement so that, together with the ICB, a safe, sustainable, and long-term facility can finally be restored for the benefit of Coven patients.
10. Disclaimer note
Although I fully endeavoured to ensure total accuracy of this and have used available records to increase accuracy, some information may be slightly out of sequence etc, however the overall meaning and overall factuality is very accurate, even for the information from memory only.