We need your views on our proposals and plans for
A new purpose-built GP surgery at Elm Tree Avenue, near the Triangle, Frinton and a
Branch Surgery in Walton
Deadline for feedback – May 4 2009
1 Initial distribution of this document Copies of this document have been sent by email or post to the following recipients. Please cascade further as appropriate.
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) Walton GP Practice Staff
NHS North East Essex – Board Members,, Professional Executive Committee, Primary Care Commissioning team, Practice Based Commissioning team., Provider Services Management Committee
Patient Commissioning Forum - Tendring Patient and Public Involvement Panel
Essex Local Medical Committee, Essex Local Pharmaceutical Committee Essex Local Dental Committee, Essex Local Optical Committee
GP Practices in Tendring Pharmacists in Tendring Dentists in Tendring Opticians in Tendring
Colchester Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust – Chief Executive
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust – Chief Executive
North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
NHS East of England – Chief Executive, Primary Care Lead, Communications and Patient & Public Involvement Directorate
Essex County Council, Health & Overview Scrutiny Committee
Essex County Council – Chief Executive, Director for Adults, Health and Community Wellbeing, Director for Schools, Children and Families
Tendring District Council – Chief Executive Frinton and Walton Town Council
Essex Police Tendring Local Strategic Partnership Nursing and residential homes in Frinton and Walton Town Council area Voluntary organisations via Tendring CVS – please cascade Schools in the Frinton and Walton Town Council area Frinton Residents Association Kirby Residents Association Walton Residents Association Libraries in Frinton, Walton and Clacton Member of Parliament- Douglas Carswell Councillor Michael Page
2 Contents
Page(s)
1. About our proposals 4 & 5 Map showing location of proposed new surgery
2. Why we need a new surgery 6
3. The design of the new surgery 7
4. The branch surgery service at Walton 7
5. How to give your views 8
6. How your views will influence this process and next 9 steps
This document is available in large print and other formats on request. It is also available from www.northeastessexpct.nhs.uk
For further copies of this document contact:
Communications, NHS North East Essex, Colchester Primary Care Centre, Turner Road, Colchester, Essex C04 5JR Tel: 01206 286830/3 Fax: 01206 286710 Or email: [email protected]
Or
Martin Durrant Practice Manager The Surgery Vicarage Lane Walton-on-the-Naze Essex CO14 8PA Or email [email protected]
3 1. About our proposals
What happens now
The Walton GP Practice currently provides the full range of GP services at its main surgery in Vicarage Lane, Walton, 5-days a week.
The current surgery opened in January 1980 and since then the number of patients registered has grown from 5,100 to 11,350. The GP practice has built 3 extensions to cope with the increasing numbers of patients but this space is still inadequate and prevents the doctors and nurses from providing more services. There are insufficient consulting rooms, waiting areas are too small, disabled access is inadequate and there is a lack of parking space, for staff and patients.
The GP practice also provides limited branch surgery services at Frinton Road in Kirby Cross.
At present there are 7 GP partners and 1 GP registrar.
The Proposals
The Walton GP Practice is proposing to have a new GP surgery built at Elm Tree Avenue, near the Triangle, Frinton. The existing Kirby Cross surgery will close. It is one mile (1.6 km) from the new site.
The new GP surgery will be purpose built and enable the practice to offer more local services for its patients in a modern environment.
Although the main GP surgery will be in Elm Tree Avenue, there will continue to be a branch surgery in Walton town. This will offer doctor and nurse sessions for five-days a week, morning and afternoon. All routine services will be available.
There will continue to be 7 GP Partners. But the increased space at the new surgery will enable the practice to increase the number of GP registrars and to have medical students.
Patients will still be able to see a GP within 48 hours or a practice nurse within 24 hours. These are national requirements. Home visits will continue as before and will be based on clinical need.
Timescales
The timescale is dependant on purchase of the land and planning consent. It is anticipated that, subject to the outcome of the above and this consultation, that the new building would be operational in 2011.
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How your views will influence the proposals
The Walton GP Practice has taken the views of its patients into account in the initial planning (see page 6). It is now asking patients and the local community for their views on its proposals – see section 5, page 8 for more about how to do this.
The Board of NHS North East Essex will consider the outcome of consultation at its Board meeting on July 28 2009. The Walton GP Practice will consider views at its partnership meeting on June 3 2009.
Map of proposed new location and existing sites
The distance from the current Walton site to the new site is 1.6 miles (2.56km) The distance from the Kirby Cross site to the new site is 1 mile (1.6km).
Public transport details Bus routes 7, 8, 8a, 107, 600 and 602 Bus stops are immediately outside the site on the same side of the road, and on the other side of the road at a distance of 90m Railway – the new site is close to Frinton Railway Station
5 2. Why we need a new purpose-built GP surgery at Elm Tree Avenue and the benefits for patients
As stated, the current premises in Walton and Kirby Cross are inadequate for modern health needs. The current surgery opened in January 1980 and since then the number of patients registered has grown from 5,100 to 11,350. Despite building 3 extensions, the space is still inadequate and prevents the doctors and nurses from providing more services. There are insufficient consulting rooms, waiting areas are too small, disabled access is inadequate and there is a lack of parking space, for staff and patients.
It is not possible to develop the existing site any further.
The Walton GP Practice has been searching for sometime to find a suitable site for development. Any site needs to be large enough to provide for the size of premises and parking. No suitable site was found in Walton. The only site that is suitable is in Elm Tree Avenue. This site is close to the Triangle Shopping Centre and Frinton Railway Station and is also on existing bus routes.
As Frinton and Walton is a considerable distance from Colchester General Hospital this is an opportunity to provide facilities closer to home.
Feedback from our patients on existing services
Patients have raised the following issues in recent surveys:
• Inadequate parking at the main Walton surgery and the branch surgery at Kirby Cross • Inadequate seating in waiting areas • Poor telephone access • No minor injury facilities
The enhanced facilities will also enable the provision of minor injury services.
Results from a recent travel survey
The Walton GP Practice recently surveyed patients attending Walton or Kirby Cross surgeries, over a two-week period. The results were:
Walton Surgery Kirby Cross surgery
Walked 470 (24.75%) 106 (27.9%) By car 1272 (67%) 250 (65.8%) By bus 80 (4.21%) 11 (2.9%) By taxi 47 (2.47%) 8 (2.1%) Other 30 (1.5) 5 (1.3%)
Total 1899 380
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3. The design of the new GP surgery
There will be modern consulting and treatment rooms, facilities to provide minor operations as well as space for other health care professionals. There is space for an on-site pharmacy, physiotherapy, dentistry etc if these health professionals wish to co-locate with the GP surgery.
The Practice will be able to install more telephone lines which will improve telephone access. There will be much better parking for patients and staff.
The design currently includes:
• 10 GP consulting rooms • 3 Nurse Practitioner consulting rooms • 1 Minor operations room • 2 large treatment rooms • Waiting area(s) for 80 people • Reception area • Interview rooms • Offices for Practice Manager and other administrative and managerial staff • Office for Secretaries • Telephone room • Common room • Educational/meeting room • Storage area • Toilets, including disabled access
The initial design for the new main surgery building requires an area of approximately 900 square metres. The existing building at Walton main surgery is 300 square metres approximately.
There will be good disabled access and the new building will be fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act and have dedicated disabled parking.
4. The Branch surgery service at Walton
The GP Practice will maintain a significant service in Walton. It may not be at the existing location in Vicarage Lane but will be in Walton Town. A doctor will be present every morning and afternoon, five-days a week and there will be nurse sessions every day. All routine services will be offered.
7 5. How to give your views
Written views should be sent to:
Communications Department NHS North East Essex FREEPOST NAT21857 Clacton-on-sea C015 4BR Or email [email protected]
Come and talk to us at one of our meetings
Doctors and the practice staff will be happy to discuss the plans with you and to answer any questions at the meetings below.
Thursday, 5 March 2009, 7.30pm – The Columbine Centre, Walton Tuesday, 24 March 2009 – 2.30pm – Soken House, The Triangle Frinton
Please do come along to give your views.
All welcome.
Invite us to a meeting/further information
If your group or organisation would like to arrange a meeting with us or require further information then please contact:
Martin Durrant, Practice Manager Telephone 01255 674373 Email: [email protected]
Summary leaflet and feedback form
A summary leaflet and feedback form has been sent to every household that has a patient registered with the Walton GP Practice. It is also available from the GP surgeries and other public locations and the website of NHS North East Essex www.northeastessex.nhs.uk
8 6. How your views will influence this process and next steps
The Board of North East Essex Primary Care Trust will consider the outcome of consultation at its Public Board Meeting on July 28 2009.
The Board’s decision will be publicised in the local media and will be available on the website of NHS North East Essex www.northeastessex.nhs.uk
The Practice will ensure patients are regularly informed of any decisions and progress with the project via posters in local surgeries.
Published February 2009
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