Changes coming to West Bergholt Surgery
As the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, the stresses it is increasingly under are being felt by the Creffield Medical Group who run the West Bergholt Surgery. Dr Hasan Chowhan from the Group has given the Parish Council a briefing on the changes.
Background – why change is needed
From the 1st June 2017 Creffield Medical Centre (based near Abbey Fields), merged with the North Hill Medical Group and the Layer Road Surgery. They had been approached by both due to the lack of doctors/partners at these organisations.
The Group is now spread over four sites; Creffield, North Hill, Nayland, and West Bergholt. The fifth site at Layer was closed in 2017 as the practice moved to Creffield. These are challenging times, inherited issues have come to light combined with changes in NHS funding and training.
The numbers in the workforce have also deteriorated due to retirement and moving, creating a dire situation with the number of available doctors reducing month on month.
The Rescue Plan
In a bid to rescue what’s left, a plan has been put in place. The North Hill site has a two-year tenancy, it is currently 6 months’ in. There is not going to be an option to renew the lease in 18 months’ time, so the plan would be to use another site for the North Hill contingent of patients (see update at foot of this article). The Centre will engage with the patients prior to this, but the natural split could be between Creffield and West Bergholt.
There are issues with getting an appointment as there are not enough doctors across all the sites. There are two types of appointments:
- Pre-booked appointments with specific doctors;
- Emergency appointments with those available.
The proposal is to run a pilot scheme between Nayland and West Bergholt:
- Nayland – would have the elective appointments, up to two weeks in advance with some slots for on the day, if possible.
- West Bergholt – would be an acute hub for urgent and emergency queries.
Why this at West Bergholt Surgery
The reasoning behind it is practical:
- West Bergholt’s geographical position nearer to North Hill and central to the practice area.
- The broadband is better, Nayland only gets 2MBs which fails if more than 4 computers are online.
- There are more clinical rooms at West Bergholt in which to see patients.
A trial started last week and, for example, on the 27th of June, there were 3 Nurse Practitioners and 1 Doctor taking emergency appointments at West Bergholt. Many calls can be handled with telephone-based triage & contact. That day, there were 65 people on the telephone list, out of which the doctor saw 15, which is just about do-able.
The important thing is to get the news out to residents. It is in all our interests for the surgeries to survive, but until the Department of Health can find and train more doctors things need to be kept going as best they can.
Safety Line
A resident has raised concerns as regards how people would get to Nayland. There is no direct bus service, however, West Bergholt is very lucky to have an active Care Network. This volunteer-run organisation is aware that more people will need to be given lifts to Nayland; they now have 20 plus volunteer drivers available.
To ask for their help or to offer your services as a volunteer, please call them on 0300 777 3100; all calls charged at local landline rates.
If you have any other concerns on these changes, please call the surgery on 01206 241137 or the Parish Council on 01206 240772, email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
Update – 17th September 2018
Creffield Medical Group has now opened its consultation about the proposed closure of the North Hill Surgery. A questionnaire is available from the surgery’s reception or you can download a copy from their website and email it to [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]. More details are on the Gazette website.