Plans to develop a brand new medical centre in East Riding of Yorkshire have moved a step forward this week, after an outline business case and additional supporting information put forward by the Willerby and Swanland GP practice was discussed and approved to progress by the NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Governing Body.
The GP practice has been working with a local developer to consider options and create plans for developing a new medical centre on Lowfield Road, Anlaby. The development would enable the practice to attract and retain vital skilled staff to the area (including GPs), enable collaborative working between the practice and community nursing teams and mental health teams in expanded premises, provide extended access with appointments available at weekends and later into the evening and secure high quality and safe GP services locally in purpose built and modern facilities.
Jane Hawkard, Chief Officer for NHS East Riding of Yorkshire CCG said:
“Our Governing Body has carefully weighed up the GP practice’s case for change and listened to the views put forward from the local community. The Governing Body agrees that, based on the evidence presented, there is a need for this practice development in order to continue to provide and sustain essential primary care services into the future. The development will also provide GP services to support people moving into the extra housing developments expected within the next 5 years.
“We would like to thank those who engaged with us and the practice regarding this proposal. We have taken seriously all the comments raised and asked the practice to provide assurances about how they intend to minimise impact on their patients, which they have done.
“We understand that a relocation may have an impact on patients travelling to appointments, particularly elderly patients. The practice confirms that they have analysed this impact through a patient survey they conducted in December 2017 and January 2018 and are working with Humber and Wolds Rural Action to improve the offer to their patients in terms of assistance with transport for appointments if needed. The Governing Body also recognised that both Willerby and Swanland have very high rates of car ownership.
“Local people also asked whether alternative sites had been looked into and the practice has provided evidence that known current alternative and available sites have been explored and considered.”
The development will now be subject to local authority planning permission and final approval by the CCG of a full business case within the identified financial envelope, expected in March 2019. Should all of this be met, the development will result in a modern and fit for purpose build by November 2020, that will ensure that GP services are sustainable as demand and population continues to grow. The proposed new centre would see patients relocate from both its existing surgeries, in Willerby and Swanland, to the new site and allow the practice to initially increase its patient capacity from 8,600 to 11,250.
The practice will continue to work with their patients through the development phase and beyond to deliver high quality GP services and ensure that patient needs are met appropriately.