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Trust unveils its vision of a supersurgery
by Amy Glendinning9/ 4/2008
PLANS have been unveiled to create a state-of-the-art doctor’s surgery for Heywood which will offer a range of tailor-made services for the community as well as core GP services.
Due to open in 2009, the new ‘Darzi clinic’ – named after Lord Darzi, who carried out a study to find where more doctors were needed – will be funded by a slice of the £3.4M government grant given to Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust to improve health in the borough.
One of three new clinics being built across the borough, the new surgery will eventually have four GPs working from it and be open evenings and weekends.
To set the ball rolling, from next month the PCT is starting a six-week public consultation process to find out what extra services the people of Heywood would like there.
Depending on the results, the clinic could offer services such as parenting classes, stress management advice, youth projects and Citizens’ Advice Bureau sessions.
A location in Heywood has yet to be identified for the new surgery, which may open in a temporary building while a suitable location is refurbished or built.
Funding comes after the borough was identified as having one of the highest ratios of patients to doctors in the country and also as being one of the worst for life expectancy and cardiovascular disease.
Vivienne Ben-David, head of primary care at the PCT, said: "This is a chance for the public to come forward and say what other services they would like at the clinic as well as the core GP services.
"This new clinic is a great opportunity get more doctors and nurses working in the community so access to GPs is easier and people do not have to travel so far.
"It will also allow us to address health problems and give people more support to improve their health."
However, some local GPs are against the new clinic.
Dr Michael Taylor, who works at York House Surgery, is also chairman of the Family Doctors’ Association, which aims to keep the best aspects of a traditional GP practice whilst adopting modern techniques.
Dr Taylor said: "The Association is committed to a patient-focused approach with continuity of care, that treats the whole person and not just the diseases that the person suffers from and I think this would not be available at the new Darzi practices.
"If GP practices in our area had had the proper funding all along then we would not need the Darzi practices to tackle the health problems in the area, but the government has always failed to get resources into deprived areas.
"By taking in new patients the Darzi practice in Heywood might threaten the more traditional family doctor."
However, Vivienne Ben-David said that the Darzi Clinic would not affect existing GP surgeries.
She said: "We will be working closely with the medical community to make sure the new services do not have a detrimental impact on existing services. We already have a high quality of care provided by local doctors but we know that to tackle health inequalities we need more doctors."
Patients referred to hospital by their GP are being given greater choice in where they are treated.
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT is giving patients the option to go anywhere in England – as long as it is a hospital where their care is funded by the NHS. This includes NHS hospitals and some independent or private hospitals – though people can still opt for their local hospital if they prefer.
From now on, patients will be able to ask their GP to provide them with information about the hospital options available to them locally or elsewhere in England. They can also access information at www.nhs.uk or call the patient advice and liaison service on 0800 121 4430.
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
10/04/2008 at 15:51
Got an opinion you want to share?Should GPs have to undergo an annual test of competence?
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