Meeting in Public of the Mid Essex, North East Essex & NHS England

Meeting in Public of the Mid Essex, North East Essex & NHS England Primary Care Commissioning Committee

Wednesday 1 March 2017, 3.00 pm – 4.30 pm

Aspen House, Stephenson Road, Severalls Business Park Colchester CO4 9QR

Part I AGENDA

Item Title Lead/Author Action Page No. No 1. Welcome, Introductions and apologies Chair To note Verbal

2. Register of Interests Chair To note 1 – 4

3. Questions from the Public Chair To note Verbal

4. Minutes of previous meeting held on 1 Chair To note 5 - 9 February 2017 and Action Log

5. Matters Arising Chair To note Verbal

Joint Issues 6. Period 10 Finance Report for North East M Thorpe To note To follow Essex CCG and Mid Essex CCG 7. IT and Premises Update NHS To note 10-11 England 8, Enhanced Services and GP contract NHS To note Verbal update England 9. Delegated Primary Care Commissioning P Green / To note Verbal update M Crass 10. Summary of recent Part II decisions V Barnes To note 12-13

North East Essex CCG Operational Issues None

Mid Essex CCG Operational Issues 11. Beaulieu Park – commissioning decision NHS For 14-16 process England decision 12. Relocation of St Lawrence Medical Practice NHS To note 17-19 England Business Issues 13. Any Other Business Chair To note Verbal

14. Date, Time and Venue of next meeting Chair To note

TBC

PRIMARY CARE COMMISSIONING COMMITTEE REGISTER OF INTERESTS FOR MEETING 1 MARCH 2017 A declared interest will remain on the register for at least six months after the interest has expired.

Declared Interest Is the interest First Type of Interest Surname Current Position (Name of the organisation and direct or Nature of Interest Date of Interest Actions taken to mitigate risk Name Declared nature of business) indirect? From To Interest Financial Non-Financial Professional Professional Non-Financial Non-Financial Personal Interest Interest Personal Non-Financial Carol Anderson Managing Director Health Education England x Direct Leadership Courses 07/12/16 Ongoing I will declare my interest if at any time issues relevant to the organisation are discussed so that appropriate arrangements can be implemented Vivienne Barnes Director of Corporate Nil Services David Barter Contract Manager, NHS Nil England (East) Ruth Blake Deputy Chief Finance Nil Officer Jackie Bidgood Contract Manager, NHS Nil England (East) Phil Cherry Finance Manager Nil

Alison Cowie Head of Nil Commissioning, NHS Melanie Crass Director of Primary Care Nil and Resilience Anna Davey Coggeshall Surgery - Coggeshall Surgery Provider of GMS x Direct Partner in Practice providing GMS 09/01/17 Ongoing Agreed with line manager that I will not be Partner Services services involved in any discussion, decision making, procurement or financial authorisation involving the Coggeshall Surgery or Edgemead Medical Services Ltd

GP Clinical Lead at Mid Essex CCG x Direct GP Clinical Lead 01/09/16 01/09/17 Agreed with line manager that I will not be involved in any discussion, decision making, procurement or financial authorisation involving the Coggeshall Surgery or Edgemead Medical Services Ltd

1 Declared Interest Is the interest First Type of Interest Surname Current Position (Name of the organisation and direct or Nature of Interest Date of Interest Actions taken to mitigate risk Name Declared nature of business) indirect? From To Interest Financial Non-Financial Professional Professional Non-Financial Non-Financial Personal Interest Interest Personal Non-Financial Anna Dave Coggeshall Surgery - Edgemead Medical Services Ltd x Direct Director 01/04/16 Ongoing Agreed with line manager that I will not be Partner involved in any discussion, decision making, procurement or financial authorisation involving the Coggeshall Surgery or Edgemead Medical Services Ltd

Chelmer Healthcare x Direct Shareholder in Chelmer Healthcare Ongoing Agreed with line manager that I will not be involved in any discussion, decision making, procurement or financial authorisation involving the Coggeshall Surgery or Edgemead Medical Services Ltd

Caroline Dollery Chair of MECCG & Elected Danbury Medical Centre x Direct Salaried GP 01/09/15 Ongoing I will declare my interest if at any time issues GP relevant to the organisation are discussed so that appropriate arrangements can be implemented

East of England Strategic Clinical x Direct Clinical Director 01/04/12 Ongoing I will declare my interest if at any time issues Network for Mental Health, relevant to the organisation are discussed so Learning Disability and Neurology that appropriate arrangements can be implemented Eastern Region Collaborations for x Direct Non-Executive Director 01/07/15 Ongoing I will declare my interest if at any time issues Leadership in Applied Health relevant to the organisation are discussed so Research & Care that appropriate arrangements can be implemented Health Education England x Direct Leadership Courses 07/12/16 Ongoing I will declare my interest if at any time issues relevant to the organisation are discussed so that appropriate arrangements can be implemented

2 Declared Interest Is the interest First Type of Interest Surname Current Position (Name of the organisation and direct or Nature of Interest Date of Interest Actions taken to mitigate risk Name Declared nature of business) indirect? From To Interest Financial Non-Financial Professional Professional Non-Financial Non-Financial Personal Interest Interest Personal Non-Financial Caroline Dollery Chair of MECCG & Elected Local Workforce Action Board x Direct Chair of Local Workforce Action 14/12/17 Ongoing I will declare my interest if at any time issues GP (LWAB) Board (LWAB) relevant to the organisation are discussed so that appropriate arrangements can be implemented

Robert Evans Interim Primary Care RLE Health Management Solutions x Direct Owner and Director 18/04/12 Ongoing Agreed with line manager that in the Commissioning Lead Limited, provider of advice and extremely unlikely situation that any decision- support to healthcare making processes and/or financial organisations. authorisations would involved RLE Health Management Solutions Limited, I would declare my interest and withdraw from the process.

Simon Evans-Evans Locality Director, NHS Nil England (East) Anne Marie Garrigan Lay Board Member (PPE) Latchingdon Primary School x Direct Chair of Governors / Governor Sep-96 date School is not a provider of any health services

Pre-school Learning Alliance x Direct Area Manager for Childrens' Centre Jul-12 date Children Centres I manage are based in Rayleigh, Rochford and Wickford

White Brick Renovation Company x Direct Secretary of the Company 18/11/2013 Ongoing The company is currently not trading. In the Limited unlikely event that a conflict of interest arises, I will declare my interest and withdraw from any discussions or decision-making processes relevant to the company

Pam Green Director of Nil Transformation and Strategy, North East Essex CCG 3 Declared Interest Is the interest First Type of Interest Surname Current Position (Name of the organisation and direct or Nature of Interest Date of Interest Actions taken to mitigate risk Name Declared nature of business) indirect? From To Interest Financial Non-Financial Professional Professional Non-Financial Non-Financial Personal Interest Interest Personal Non-Financial Alan Hubbard Lay Member Office of the Police and Crime x Direct Independent Joint Audit Committee 01/03/15 31/03/19 Agreed with the Chair that I would declare my (Commercial) Commissioner for Essex Member interest and withdraw from any decision- making processes and/or financial authorisations involving Essex Police

Gary Sweeney Chair, North East Essex Care UK (Health and social care x Indirect Son is IT Lead at this company Ongoing Ongoing Usual confidentiality requirements will apply CCG provider)

SHEL (non-profit-making subsidiary x Direct Director/Chair Ongoing Ongoing GS to not be involved in any decisions, or of Essex LMC supporting failing discussions leading up to decisions, relating to practices) any services which are or may be provided by SHEL

Essex LMC (local representative x Direct Member Ongoing Ongoing Confidentiality require-ments to be noted in committee for NHS GPs) respect of Part II business.

Mat Thorpe Head of Finance, NHS Nil England

4 Mid Essex CCG, North East Essex CCG & NHS England Primary Care Commissioning Committee Part I Meeting

Date: 1 February 2017 Time: 3.30pm to 4.30pm Location: Wren House, Hedgerows Business Park, Colchester Road, Chelmsford

Members:

Name Initials Role Anne-Marie Garrigan AMG PPE Lay Member, Mid Essex CCG (Chair) Viv Barnes VB Director of Corporate Services, Mid Essex CCG Alison Cowie AC Head of Commissioning, NHS England Mat Thorpe MT Head of Finance, NHS England Pam Green PG Director of Transformation & Strategy, North East Essex CCG Dr Gary Sweeney GS Chair, North East Essex CCG Phil Cherry PC Finance Manager, NHS England Robert Evans RE Primary Care Commissioning Lead, Mid Essex CCG

In attendance:

Anna Davey AD Clinical Lead, Mid Essex CCG Paul Osman PO Trustee, Action for Family Carers Ms Maureen Henes MH Member of the public Josh Larwood JL Cranford Pharmaceuticals

Apologies:

Simon Evans-Evans SE Locality Director, NHS England Dr Caroline Dollery CD Chair, Mid Essex CCG Carol Anderson CA Managing Director, Mid Essex CCG Melanie Crass MC Director of Primary Care & Resilience Dr Tom Nutt TN Chief Executive, Healthwatch Essex

Item No Agenda Item Actions 1 Welcome, Introductions and Apologies

Members were welcomed to the meeting, with apologies for the late start, and introductions provided.

Apologies for absence were noted as detailed above.

2 Register of interests

Members reviewed the Register of Interests for the Committee and confirmed there were no changes to the declared interests.

Declarations declared by members of the Primary Care Commissioning Committee (PCCC) are listed in Mid and North East Essex CCG’s Registers of Interests. The Register is available via the secretary to the governing body of each CCG.

Declarations of interest from sub committees 5

N/A.

Declarations of interest from today’s meeting

None declared.

3 Questions from the Public

Mr Paul Osman (PO) from Action for Family Carers (AfFC) drew attention to the references to the role of carers in the following documents:

• Commissioning for Carers (authors: Sir Bruce Keogh, National Medical Director, NHS England and Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer, NHS England); • General Practice Forward View.

PO acknowledged previous advice that GPs were not contractually obliged to keep registers of carers but queried why the CCG could not use BCF funding to develop a section 75 agreement to this effect.

VB asked if she could provide some feedback to the Carers issues that PO had raised at the previous meeting, explaining that MC had been unable to complete a formal written response in the time available. VB advised that since the last PCCC meeting the CCG had agreed to sign up to the Essex Carers Strategy and had invited PO to give a presentation to Mid Essex GPs at the next GP stakeholder meeting. The Mid Essex Practice Managers forum had also been asked to invite PO to address one of their meetings. The CCG was also discussing with NEE CCG a piece of work where they had incentivised the identification of carers through a flu vaccination scheme.

PO acknowledged these developments but reiterated that the best way to encourage practices to support carers was via financial incentives. AMG explained that the actions being progressed were intended to obtain the support of practices, which was the vital first step towards increasing GP uptake of any voluntary schemes.

Mrs Maureen Henes (MH) queried the lack of any Direct Enhanced Service income for the Chelmer Village and Castle Hedingham surgeries as set out in the period 9 Finance report. MT advised that the Castle Hedingham surgery had closed but would remain on the report for the rest of the financial year because closed surgeries still incurred costs. He went on to note that the Chelmer Village surgery appeared not to have signed up for any enhanced services in 2016/17.

MH also suggested that the cover sheet for PCCC reports should include the impact of any proposal upon patients. PG advised that the Equality and Diversity section was intended to highlight any impact upon groups with protected characteristics, however AMG agreed that it might also be worth expanding the Implications for Communications and Engagement section to include the general impact upon patients.

6 4 Minutes of the last meeting and Action Log

4(i) Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 January 2017

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 January 2017 were agreed as an accurate record.

Resolved: The committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2017.

4(ii) Action Log

It was noted that all the actions due for review were either completed or on the agenda.

5 Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

6 Period 9 Primary Care Medical Financial Performance Report for North East Essex and Mid Essex CCGs

MT presented the financial performance report as at the end of month 9, highlighting a £138k overspend against the ME CCG budget and a £61k underspend against the NEE CCG budget. A more detailed breakdown of the current month and year to date position and practice level forecast out-turn was provided in Appendix 1. The overall forecast underspend within the Essex General Practice cost centre reflected the picture nationally and was predominantly made up of the non-materialisation of year end expenditure and the release of reserves.

GS asked whether there would be a fund at CCG level for discretionary payments. MT advised that NHS England East held a central budget for discretionary payments, with any payments reflected in individual practice’s income. AC suggested that CCGs opting for fully delegated commissioning might wish to pool these budgets going forward under a risk sharing agreement. In response to a question from VB, MT confirmed that whilst NHS England would remain responsible for administering any suspension payments, the costs would be borne by the relevant CCG.

Resolved: the Committee noted the Period 9 Finance report for NECCG and MECCG.

7 Delegated Commissioning update

It was noted that the applications from both MECCG and NEECCG for delegated commissioning had been submitted and confirmation of acceptance was now awaited from NHS England.

8 IT and Premises Update

The Committee received the IT and Premises report, providing an update on the progress of ETTF Transformation Fund bids and other premises developments.

7 Resolved: the Committee noted the IT and Premises update.

9 North East Essex CCG Operational Issues

None.

10 Mid Essex CCG Operational Issues

None.

11 Any Other Business

11(i) Cover Sheet for Reports

VB presented the report cover sheet which had been revised in the light of feedback at the last meeting. It was agreed to include patient impact in the cover sheet headings and clarified that resource implications should include IT and estates costs as well as any direct VB financial implications. AC offered to share the NHS England priorities, which could be used under the Strategic Objectives heading. AC

11(ii) Part II Decisions

VB noted that an increasing number of local operational issues were being discussed at the confidential Part II meeting and queried whether these decisions would be reported at the public Part I meeting when they were no longer deemed sensitive or commercially confidential. PCCC members agreed that this should be the intention, with the first updates provided at the March meeting. VB

12 Date and time of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next PCCC Part I meeting would take place on 1 March 2017 at 3.00 pm in Aspen House, Stephenson Road, Severalls Business Park, Colchester CO4 9QR.

8 Meeting Agenda Action Lead Deadline for Outcome/Update Date Item Completion 17/01/17 10 Guidance Note for GP Practices Serving Atypical Populations: Mel Crass 1 March 2017 Local funding proposal to be agreed for Pam Green relevant practices to enable them to plan Mat Thorpe ahead of the Carhill Formula changes due Phil Cherry 2018. 1/02/17 11i) Report cover sheet Cover sheet to be amended to include patient Viv Barnes 1 March 2017 impact and clarification that resource implications should include IT and estates costs as well as any direct financial implications.

NHS England priorities, which could be used Alison Cowie 1 March 2017 Completed under the Strategic Objectives heading, to be shared with VB. 1/02/17 11ii) Part II Decisions Local operational issues discussed at the Viv Barnes 1 March 2017 Completed – on agenda confidential Part II meeting to be reported at the public Part I meeting when they are no longer deemed sensitive or commercially confidential.

9 Agenda Item 7

NHS England, MECCG and NEECCG Primary Care Commissioning Committee Meeting of 1 March 2017

IT and Premises Update

1. Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (“ETTF”)

A final list of schemes covering a 3 year period and split in to 2 cohorts have been supported in principle by the NHS England national team. Cohort 1 schemes must be completed by 31st March 2017. Cohort 2 Schemes must be completed to an agreed timescale between 31st March 2018 and 31st March 2019. In order to achieve full approval to enable commencement all projects are now subject to due diligence.

Bids that are supported in principle are not approved until due diligence requirements have been met and final approval is given for a scheme/project to proceed

Supported Cohort 1 schemes and their current status are shown below:

CCG Project Name Brief Description Status NE Essex Tollgate MC A review of this bid has taken place and Approved funding has now been secured to undertake a feasibility resulting in an Outline Business case Mid Kelvedon & Feering Reconfiguration to provide additional Awaiting due diligence Essex Health Centre clinical space - funding gap identified Mid Wyncroft Surgery Conversion of office space to clinical Awaiting final due Essex room diligence documentation. Expected 6 march at which time the scheme will be approve d NE Essex Clacton Hospital New build - Fees to work up OBC/FBC Approved NE Essex Tiptree Medical Centre New build - Fees to work up OBC/FBC Approved Mid Maldon Healthcare New build - Fees to work up OBC/FBC Approved Essex Reprovision Mid Witham Hub Surgery New build - Fees to work up OBC/FBC Approved Essex NE Essex GPIT Mobile/Remote Working Works underway Mid GPIT Mobile working Works underway Essex Mid GPIT Wifi Provision Works underway Essex Mid GPIT Video Conferencing Works underway Essex NE Essex GPIT Wifi Provision Works underway NE Essex GPIT NEE CARE IS Pilot and Rollout Works underway

In addition the following scheme originally submitted as an ETTT bid will now instead be funded as Premises Improvement Grant:

CCG Project Name Brief Description Status NE Creffield Road Reconfiguration to provide Awaiting due Essex Medical Centre additional clinical space diligence

Note that a number of Mid Essex CCG sponsored IT schemes now cover the whole of the Mid and South Essex STP area.

2. Other Premises Developments

The following updates on schemes within the pipeline should be noted:

Riverside, Manningtree: The lease has now expired a new lease is being negotiated.

A new modular unit is required as an interim measure whilst a longer term plan is identified. Costs have now been received and a PID is to be prepared and funding sought. A planning application for the continued siting of the unit on a short term basis whilst plans for the longer term are worked up, has been submitted and is being reviewed by the Local Authority.

Wivenhoe Health Centre: A full business case has been approved. Currently awaiting a revised construction programme and finalised IT costs.

West Mersea: Currently on hold

Harewood Surgery - currently on hold, awaiting revised proposal

Beaulieu Park - awaiting commissioning decision before estates proposal can progress. Work is underway to identify an occupier for the site. A meeting has been held with the developer and work is progressing with regard to design and occupation heads of terms.

South Woodham Ferrers- PID approved, Outline Business case to be prepared

Kennedy Way, Clacton: - Architect has been commissioned by NHSPS, initial plans where provided for review. A second iteration taking account of comments is underway.

St Lawrence, Braintree- Work on the new premises are underway. Completion expected March 2017

11 Agenda Item 10

NHS England, MECCG and NEECCG Primary Care Commissioning Committee Meeting of 1 March 2017

Summary of recent Part II decisions

1. Background

As a general rule, meetings of the Primary Care Commissioning Committee, including the decision-making and deliberations leading up to the decision, should be held in public unless the CCG has concluded it would be ‘prejudicial to the public interest’ to hold that part of the meeting in public. Situations where this might be appropriate include:

• Information about individual patients or other individuals which includes sensitive personal data is to be discussed; • Commercially confidential information is to be discussed, for example the detailed contents of a provider’s tender submission; • Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings is to be discussed; • To allow the meeting to proceed without interruption and disruption.

In the above cases, these matters are discussed at a private Part II meeting from which the public and other attendees are excluded. Where such decisions are made, it is good practice for these to be reported in the public part of the meeting if and when it is considered that these matters are no longer confidential, commercially sensitive or legally privileged. This report provides a summary of such decisions made by the Primary Care Commissioning Committee at its last few meetings.

2. Summary of Decisions

November 2016

• Extension of service level agreement with Rowhedge Medical Practice (Colchester) until 31 March 2018. • Approval of The Practice’s (South Woodham Ferrers) dispersal action plan and agreement that the patient letter should now be sent out with details of all neighbouring practices with which patients might seek registration.

January 2017

• None

February 2017

• Approval in principle of the re-procurement model for the Special Allocation Scheme, subject to receipt and review of the service specification.

• Approval of the temporary closure of the Hawthorn surgery (Colchester) on week day afternoons for a period of up to 12 months, with a review at 6 months to confirm how the GP recruitment is progressing • Approval of the temporary afternoon closure of the Maylandsea surgery (Chelmsford) for a 3 month period until April 2017, subject to fortnightly status reviews.

3. Further Information

A copy of the full report in relation to any of the above decisions is available on request from Viv Barnes, Director of Corporate Services, Mid Essex CCG, minus any redacted information that is still considered to be confidential or commercially sensitive.

Agenda Item 11

NHS England, MECCG and NEECCG Primary Care Commissioning Committee Meeting of 1 March 2017

Beaulieu Park – Commissioning Decision Process

Submitted by: Cathy Galione, Contracts Manager

Simon Evans-Evans, Locality Director for Mid and South Essex Presented by: NHS England Midlands & East (East)

Status For information

i Information and Decision

This report is provided to the Committee for information and for the planned actions to be endorsed. ii Summary;

A report on Beaulieu Park was previously presented to this Committee in November 2016. The committee previously agreed that it should be confirmed with the developer of Beaulieu Park that the health facility identified as part of the development will be required. It was recognised at the meeting that a commissioning decision would need to be taken with regards to the services that would be required within the health facility.

Following a recent planning meeting between NHS England and Mid Essex CCG; this report is being provided to inform the committee on the required actions to be taken in order to be able to progress with this commissioning decision.

iii Financial implications;

There are currently no financial implications for NHS England or Mid Essex CCG.

14 Introduction

A report on Beaulieu Park was previously presented to this Committee in November 2016. This report set out the options available for the future of the new health facility identified with the developer of Beaulieu Park.

The committee previously agreed that it should be confirmed with the developer that the health facility identified as part of the Beaulieu Park development will be required. It was recognised at the meeting that a commissioning decision would need to be taken with regards to the services that would be required within the health facility.

A meeting took place with the developer on 21 February 2017 and premises plans will be finalised in conjunction with the final commissioning decision.

Commissioning model/options available;

The following options have, at this stage, been identified in respect of the commissioning decision with regards to the services within the health facility:

1. Do nothing 2. Commission brand new APMS contract 3. Commission single branch surgery (this option may interest more than one practice) 4. Commission multiple branches with shared space in same building 5. Relocate an existing practice and accommodate growth from the development (this option may interest more than one practice) 6. No GP services on site but community services 7. Mix GP and community services

Planned actions

The following actions are planned in respect of getting the organisations to a position of making a commissioning decision:

1. The CCG will issue a communication to all practices in Mid Essex before the end of February 2017 to inform them that options are being considered for the Beaulieu Park site and to seek confirmation as to whether they wish to be included within options 3, 4 or 5 (listed above). Letter with template needs to ask that they confirm by the end of March 2017 that they are interested and that they are undertaking the required patient engagement before their final response by the end of April 2017. (At the time of submitting this report a draft communication is being finalised).

2. The CCG will ensure that NHS England’s communications and external stakeholders eg, LMC, are informed that the above process is being undertaken.

3. The CCG and NHS England to develop methodology for appraisal of options by the end of April 2017.

15 4. Decision on the preferred option to be presented to and made to the designated CCG decision making committee in June 2017.

5. The CCG to set up a project team to deliver this project.

Conclusion

The committee are asked to endorse the above actions at this stage that are to be taken in order to be able to progress with this commissioning decision.

A report with a recommendation on the preferred commissioning option will be presented to the designated CCG decision making committee in June 2017.

Agenda Item 12

NHS England, MECCG and NEECCG Primary Care Commissioning Committee Meeting of 1 March 2017

Relocation of St Lawrence practice

Submitted by: Cathy Galione, Contracts Manager Simon Evans-Evans, Locality Director for Mid and South Essex Presented by: NHS England Midlands & East (East)

Status For information

i Information and Decision

This is for information purposes only. ii Summary;

Attached is a copy of the stakeholder briefing which has been issued ahead of the St Lawrence Medical Practice in Braintree moving to new premises located at the Campus of The College at Braintree.

A letter has also been issued to the patients of the Practice. iii Financial implications;

There are currently no financial implications for NHS England or Mid Essex CCG.

February 2017

Stakeholder Briefing: New premises for St Lawrence Medical Practice, Braintree

We previously advised you that alongside the process to put in place a new Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contract at St Lawrence Medical Practice, Braintree, NHS England was also working with NHS Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, Braintree District Council and NHS Property Services to identify alternative surgery premises for the 12,000 patients currently registered with the practice.

A number of options for alternative premises were considered before proposing the preferred option to relocate to the campus of The College at Braintree. NHS England fully engaged with the Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG) on these options. The views of the PPG were that the premises should be modern, easily accessible for patients and have room for expansion.

The St Lawrence Medical Practice, currently located in the town centre at 4 Bocking End, Braintree, CM7 9AA will be moving to its new purpose-built premises on the campus of The College at Braintree from Monday 20 March 2017.

The practice, which will be renamed Church Lane Surgery once the new premises are open, will provide a range of GP medical services to the local community in a modern, fit-for-purpose building. Services will continue to be delivered by Virgin Care Services Limited, which was awarded a ten-year APMS (Alternative Provider Medical Services) contract from June 2016.

18 The College at Braintree campus is located on Church Lane, Braintree, CM7 5SN which is less than one mile from the Practice’s current location.

The size and location of the new fit-for-purpose building means that there is car parking available for patients and the new building is big enough to allow for the projected population growth of patients to Braintree.

NHS England is working with the St Lawrence Medical Practice to make sure that all registered patients are aware of what is happening and that they receive all the information they need. All registered patients will be receiving a letter in the coming days to inform them of the changes and the options open to them, and to provide advice and support.

We are aware that this change of premises may be unsettling for patients, some of whom have been with the practice for many years, and we are working with the practice to ensure patients are supported during the transition.

Patients will continue to be able to access services from St Lawrence Medical Practice at its current location in the usual way until Friday 17 March 2017.

Any questions or queries can be directed to [email protected], directly to the practice or to Healthwatch Essex on 0300 500 1895 or at [email protected].