THE GPs and the Patient Participation Groups of Chiddenbrook and New Valley Surgeries extended an invitation to the public to attend a Drop-In Open Evening last month about the proposal to co-locate both practices to a new, single GP surgery in Crediton.

The proposed location for the new GP surgery would be in Joseph Locke Way, adjacent to Crediton Railway Station and the Tesco store at Wellparks.

The Drop-In, which was very well attended, was held in the function room at Crediton Football Club.

It was an opportunity for the practice community to view information, engage with the project teams and offer feedback.

NHS England has been assessing the project which promises to deliver radical improvements to the way healthcare is delivered.

With this development the GPs seek to improve and develop new models of care for their patients, maintain general practice in Crediton for the next 30 years, and attract young GPs and key medical staff in the future.

CURRENT SERVICES STRETCHED

The Crediton GPs, together with their Federation partners in Mid Devon Healthcare, have been exploring potential solutions to the challenges facing modern day GPs – namely how to meet the changing healthcare needs of the population in the current economic climate.

The rise in prevalence of obesity, diabetes, alcohol and smoking related illness, an expanding population with new housing developments and an ageing population are stretching services in their current format.

Dr Peter Twomey, lead GP from Chiddenbrook surgery, and Dr Jo Harris, lead GP from New Valley Practice have spearheaded the project which will attract significant financial investment from NHS England’s Primary Care Transformation Fund which the GPs will pay back over 30 years.

The Project is on a tight deadline. The NHS grant, funding 85 per cent of the project, must be allocated and used by March 2020 so the funding does not revert back to the Treasury.

FUNDING

In order to keep on track, the GPs are submitting a planning application to Mid Devon District Council, as this requires three months to get approved.

Mid Devon District Council has also been asked to assist in the funding process.

At the Drop-In on February 6, there were five information points staffed by project team members seeking patient feedback.

These included architects and building plans, the “Case for Change”, project GPs, Patient Participation Group and the Transport and Project Management Team.

Four of the GPs together with members of the medical team and the practices’ patient groups have been developing the building plans with local architects.

Grainge have held interviews and analysed the workflow for future models of care and space requirements. The project is still in the development phase and there will be challenges to overcome but the GPs are optimistic.

TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT CONCERNS

Richard Ward, Practice Manager, Chiddenbrook Surgery, said after the public consultation: “The new joint surgery project has been four years in the making, so we were all very pleased to get such a good turn out to the event.

“The people attending had lots to say, much of it positive, which was great to hear. All the comments, good and bad, have been compiled and will feed into the project.

“The main concerns raised were about transport and public transport to the proposed site. Although it’s fair to say the bus provision is already much better to the new site, compared with either Chiddenbrook or New Valley, we are following up on the feedback received and have started a dialogue with Devon County Council to ask for more services to stop outside the proposed new site .”

Those who would like information about the project, can visit either of the practice websites: www.chiddenbrook-surgery.nhs.uk and: www.newvalleypractice.co.uk .

• What do you think about the proposal for a new GP surgery to replace the existing two Crediton surgeries?

Share your views with fellow “Crediton Courier” readers. Write a letter, suitable for publication, to The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF. Alternatively, email your letter to: [email protected] .