The CCG has been supporting Riversdale Surgery in Wylam to seek the views of their patients, the wider public and their stakeholders on the impact of their proposed relocation to the Oaklands Health Centre in Prudhoe.
Drop in sessions
Come along and talk to us about Riversdale Surgery as we would like to hear your views about the proposed move to Oaklands Health Centre in Prudhoe.
Three drop in sessions have been arranged as follows:
- Wednesday 19 February, 3 – 5pm at St Oswin’s Church Hall, Wylam
- Monday 24 February, 1 – 3pm at St Oswin’s Church Hall, Wylam
- Thursday 27 February, 5 – 7pm at Wylam Library
Background
Riversdale is a small practice in Wylam and it is finding it unsustainable to continue to operate from its two existing sites, Riversdale in Wylam and Oaklands Health Centre in Prudhoe. The practice wishes to consolidate all its activity into the Oaklands site.
The Riversdale site is a converted residential house which is not fit for purpose to deliver modern primary care services as the majority of clinical and consulting rooms are not on the ground floor. Oaklands Health Centre is a modern fit for purpose Primary Care Centre with all clinical rooms located within the ground floor. The planned retirement of the remaining property owning partner, Dr Knapton, also means that the premises would not be available to deliver GP services from May 2020.
Between March and September 2017 the practice undertook an initial period of engagement with patients and other interested parties, with various options for alternative sites being considered.
Given the time that passed since the original engagement exercise, due to issues with the various development options, costings and funding, the CCG recommended that the practice refresh their engagement.
In January 2020, the practice carried out the following activities to inform patients and stakeholders and to gain up to date feedback:
- Updated their website with the latest information
- Put up posters in the waiting rooms of both surgery sites
- Messages were attached to prescriptions
- Patients were updated in person during consultations in the surgery and on home visits
- Set up an online survey and gathered feedback manually using the same questionnaire from patients unable to complete the survey on line (particularly frail elderly patients)
- Held meetings with local stakeholder groups.
The practice has now submitted its formal application to the CCG’s Primary Care Commissioning Committee which was considered at its meeting in February.
The option proposed by the practice is to consolidate services to The Oaklands Health Centre and close the current site in Wylam, has faced some objection from patients and other members of the public, particularly the Wylam Surgery Users’ Group who are raising concerns over the withdrawal of services and accessibility in the future. The CCG has noted these concerns and has now arranged further engagement to assess the impact and accessibility of services in a rural community.