Doubts cast over GP surgery plan at estate
PLANS for a medical centre at a new 2,200-home estate just outside Burton have been thrown into doubt.
Health bosses in Derbyshire have revealed they are now only just starting a feasibility study into providing a new medical centre at the Drakelow Park development, which had been agreed when the housing estate was approved in 2012.
They have now asked for a financial contribution of £1,074,816 towards medical provisions, having recommended expanding existing surgeries instead of building a new one.
But councillor Amy Wheelton says Drakelow needs its own surgery due to the number of new residents who will end up living there.
She says there is no bus service from the development to the alternative Swadlincote Surgery.
The Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which runs surgeries, admitted it is finding it “increasingly difficult” to operate services across multiple branch surgeries due to staff shortages.
The information was revealed in a report to South Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee. The CCG said it the report: “The CCG notes the impact on GP practices, with an increased patient population of approximately 5,598 (based on 2,239 homes in total) people.
“The CCG are currently finalising the appointment of the contractor to undertake a feasibility study in order to determine options for increasing clinical capacity in Swadlincote and the surrounding area.
“The brief for the study includes a request for early indication of interest from local practices in the potential for taking on a branch site at Drakelow, whether that’s in a standalone building or accommodation within another community facility.
“The CCG states that national policy direction of travel for primary care is towards practices working together, at scale to deliver services, and that there is a shortage of clinical staff and practices, nationally, not just in Derbyshire. They are finding it increasingly difficult to operate services across multiple sites and the trend has been for the opening hours of branch surgeries to reduce and for some branch sites to close.
“As such, they are concerned about their ability to find a contractor who will want to deliver services from an additional site.
“Until the CCG have completed the feasibility study they are unable to confirm whether a facility at Drakelow would meet their strategic needs.”
Councillor Wheelton told the committee meeting: “I have to admit deep frustrations with the CCG: they have had nine, or is it 12, years to be ready for this and yet their feasibility study is just beginning. Initially the CCG thought it acceptable for 6,000 new residents to drive over the Burton/cauldwell crossroads
where there have been five crashes in the last six weeks, with no thought being given to climate change as a result of additional journeys.
“In addition to this, there is currently no bus provision to Swadlincote surgery and no thought to the local surrounding villages who have no local Derbyshire healthcare provision at all and have to rely upon over-stretched Staffordshire resources.
“We are poorly served, as was recently admitted by the CCG at an overview and scrutiny committee. I hope common sense prevails and all the local villages plus the new Drakelow development are given the healthcare provision they deserve, with easy on-site access and adequate parking.”
A CCG spokesperson told the Burton Mail: “NHS Derby and Derbyshire CCG is committed to ensuring the residents of Drakelow have GP services which are as accessible and sustainable as possible.
“A feasibility study is now underway to assess how best to deliver these services in Drakelow, and it would be inappropriate to prejudge the outcome of that study. The study will assess the best way of meeting the primary care needs of individuals and the population as a whole.
“However, establishing a new GP practice is a complex process, which requires careful planning and investment. This goes beyond funding the construction and initial costs to the long-term viability of a practice, including staffing, and the feasibility study will take this into account.
“We will continue to work closely with South Derbyshire District Council on this project, which we recognise is of great importance for the residents of Drakelow.”
Establishing a new GP practice is a complex process, which requires careful planning and investment.