We are finally underway…work has begun on the new GP practice in Crediton.

Back in 2016, Sir Simon Stevens (Chief Executive Officer of the NHS) announced that the NHSE Estate, Technology and Transformation Fund would be investing millions of pounds in a new primary care healthcare facility in Crediton, following application to the fund submitted by New Valley Practice and Chiddenbrook Surgery. The announcement caused a huge stir. Many people felt that they would believe it when they saw it.

But here we are in 2020 and building has actually started. We have been down to see the diggers ourselves and they are definitely there.

Turf Cutting:

Of course, 2020 has also brought us Covid-19, so there has been no ceremony nor party to celebrate the final signature that was required before building could start.

On behalf of both partnerships, Dr Harris and Dr Twomey were given spades to make the first cut into the soil, but at a safe distance from each other and with no cheering crowds.

You can almost make out the footprint now of the new building. Kier, who are building this new development, say the external construction will go up in a matter of months.

Kier has been supportive and enthusiastic partners in this venture and we feel sure they will provide us with a building that we are really proud of.

Why do we want this?:

So now we need to remember why we have been pursuing this so doggedly for the last five years.

New Valley Practice (or Newcombes as it was) and Chiddenbrook Surgery have felt that they would be stronger and more resilient together than apart and the conversation around the merging of the two practices has waxed and waned for many years. The majority of the benefits, however, are only really realised fully if there is a single main premises.

As the bureaucracy around running a practice increases, there are many tasks and jobs that both practices need to do which will only need doing once in a merged entity. This will leave more time for staff and clinicians to tend to the needs of the patient population.

A new beginning gives the opportunity to allow for a fresh way of looking at things and for new ways of working. We want to increase the warmth and welcome we extend to our patients.

We want it to be a caring, innovative, creative, attractive and exciting place to work whilst retaining the intimacy of a smaller practice.

We want to work closely with our colleagues from the community team, the RD and E Acute Trust and Hospiscare so that patients tell their story once and feel that what matters to them is at the heart of the care they receive. We want to use technology to streamline our processes and services.

We want to work with Mid Devon District Council, public health and the voluntary and community sector to improve health outcomes related to housing, education and lifestyle choices.

A Community Asset.

We, you – our whole community - has been given this investment opportunity. It will enable the creation of a modern, fit for purpose health facility that will meet the demands of our increasing population.

We have also been given the chance to redesign services to make the patient journey better from the minute you contact the practice and beyond.

This is a really exciting time and a great opportunity to improve and future proof healthcare for the community we serve and to work collaboratively with all those involved in delivering the wider health and well-being agenda.

We look forward to working with our staff, patient participation groups and wider community to help shape our future.

If you would like to be involved at this exciting time, please contact us at: [email protected] .

Drs Jo Harris and Peter Twomey