A number of Isle of Wight GP practices are set join forces in 2 separate mergers to ensure the long-term sustainability of services for their patients.
NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has approved the formal mergers of Carisbrooke Medical Centre and the Dower House Surgery in Newport from 1st October. The CCG has also approved the merger of Ventnor Medical Centre and Grove House Surgery, Ventnor from 1st April 2020.
The 4 practices are involved in the first mergers of GP surgeries on the Isle of Wight, although similar formal partnerships have taken place regularly on the mainland in recent years and helped secure the future of some GP practices.
GP partners at all 4 practices and the CCG strongly believe that the mergers are in the best interest of patients at a time of growing demand and pressures on primary services with people living longer – including many with more complex long-term health conditions.
The 2 mergers involve no site closures and no loss of any staff jobs. All 4 existing buildings will remain open to offer patient services.
The mergers will help practice managers and GPs offer patients a bigger pool of clinical skills and staffing resources – and far greater resilience, with more robust cover for staff holiday leave and sickness.
As part of their patient communication work, each of the four practices has a patient Question Answer factsheet either on its website or hard copies in the practice – or both.
Dower House and Carisbrooke
Other benefits of the merger for Dower House Surgery and Carisbrooke Medical Centre will be:
– a better range of appointments, with patients being offered appointments at either site
– the ability to be able to develop new services, bring in other health professionals to be able to meet their patients’ diverse needs
– a better ability to recruit and bring in a range of GPs who have other skills, such as dermatology and mental health – again better meeting their patients’ needs
– developing specialist admin teams to deal more efficiently with patient requests.
The 2 practices are already working closely together, and the merger will help build on existing relationships. In 2018, Dower House Surgery and Carisbrooke Medical Centre launched a new minor illness service to help meet the demand for same-day appointments – and commissioned a musculo-skeletal service (MSK) and piloted a prescription ordering service.
Dr Tim Whelan, from Dower House, said:
“We are already facing problems recruiting GPs who have left or retired – and Carisbrooke also has GPs who are nearing retirement. Together, our two practices will be much stronger to face future challenges and be better placed to further improve our services to patients.”
Dr Judith Moore, from Carisbrooke, added:
“Patients will have greater choice by choosing which medical centre they attend – although some specialist services or clinics may only be available at one of them. Our practices have already proved that they work well together to improve patient services.”
Grove House and Ventnor Medical Centre
The 2 sites are only around 200 metres apart – and both practices already share the services of an advanced nurse practitioner.
Dr David Stevenson, from Ventnor Medical Centre, said:
“Our practices have already proved that they work well together to improve patient services. We see this merger as great news for our patients, especially at a time when so many practices face real issues when GPs leave or retire.”
Dr Stephen Doggett, from Grove House Surgery, said:
“This merger offers us very exciting opportunities to develop our existing relationship to improve our services to patients. It will also safeguard our services and greatly improve our resilience and mean that we continue to serve patients at the heart of our community not just now – but in future years.”
