SOUTH DALES HEALTHCARE

To the patients of & Hulland Ward Practice

We are writing to you to explain some changes which have taken place at Brailsford and Hulland Ward Medical Practice.

The most important change is that South Dales Health has taken over the leadership and day-to-day running of the practice.

South Dales Health is a collaboration of three local GP Partnerships: Henmore Health and Ashbourne Medical Practices in Ashbourne, and Hannage Brook Medical Centre in .

The change in leadership follows the result of a routine inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in July, 2021. The inspection found that the practice's service was inadequate overall.

The practices which are part of South Dales Health have been working together closely over the last few years, never more so than through the pandemic and in delivering the COVID vaccine. We have experience in managing the medical and social problems of a rural community. Each practice also has a legacy of aiming to provide traditional family medicine, alongside being innovative and responsive to the changing requirements in general practice and the needs of the community.

The South Dales Health clinical leads and managers are working closely with the CQC and NHS and Clinical Commissioning Group, to which we are accountable for ensuring patient care improves and staff welfare is rebuilt. We intend to make rapid service improvements that allow the practice to thrive once again, serving the community of Brailsford and Hulland Ward safely and effectively.

This work is complex, and some aspects will take a little time to get right. We ask that you are patient with staff and the new leadership as we seek to make the required improvements as quickly but as carefully as possible. The CQC report notes that the practice staff treated patients with kindness, respect and compassion. Staff in the practice are working under great pressure and we ask that you show kindness and respect to staff during this challenging period. This would be very much appreciated.

We are grateful to the Brailsford and Hulland Patient Participation group and the Brailsford Parish Council. We also want to acknowledge the contribution of several current and former clinical members of the community, who have been supportive of the South Dales Health leadership coming in. We hope to extend this positive start to the rest of the community over the coming year and beyond.

We understand as a patient you may have question or concerns. We will be holding a community meeting in due course and will also update the practice website with information: https://www.brailsfordandhulland.co.uk/

If you do wish to ask a question, please email [email protected]. We will publish answers to frequently asked questions on the practice website. Please don't call the practice with these questions, because we need to keep these phone lines free for people seeking medical support.

Thankyou for your support and understanding,

The South Dales Health team