Group of GPs Are Willing to Build New Surgery in Ash – But The NHS Has Other Ideas

Published on: 18 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 18 Oct, 2024

The Ash site earmarked for a medical facility

By David Reading

A consortium of GPs has expressed an interest in building and running a general practice surgery on the site set aside by Bewley Homes for healthcare purposes in Ash.

Such a project would aim at meeting the additional need for primary care services created by the large number of homes that have been built – and are still being built – in the Ash and Tongham area.

But NHS Frimley has insisted once again that the best way to meet the area’s housing boom will be to invest in the existing GP services rather than by building a new surgery. A statement said this is being achieved by expanding the number of consulting rooms at the two practices serving the area – the Bartlett Group with surgeries in Ash Vale and Frimley Green and the Border Practice across the county border in Rushmoor. Both practices “are seeking to increase their workforce”, the statement said.

NHS Frimley said the money for the expansion would come from Section 106 contributions from housing developers. Asked to quantify the amount being handed over, Guildford Borough Council said: “We’re expecting to shortly receive a request from Frimley ICB (the NHS organisation that manages health services) for the release of S106 funds totalling £178,449.”

The news that the NHS is unsupportive of the consortium’s proposals has left the two borough councillors for Ash South disappointed and bewildered.

Cllr Sue Wyeth-Price

Cllr Sue Wyeth-Price (R4GV) said: “Cllr David Shaw and I have been meeting with a group of GPs from a very highly-rated and innovative practice currently based in east London who are looking to expand here. They are willing to build and run a new GP practice on the site which would provide considerable benefits to the local community at no capital cost to the NHS.

“However, NHS Frimley are unwilling to support any new practice, apparently based on the consultations they had with the two existing surgeries which cover the local area.

“Furthermore, from the meetings we have had with NHS Frimley, it is now apparent that GBC did not consult NHS Frimley before promising the residents, since January 2018, a new healthcare facility in Ash.”

Cllr David Shaw

A further point that may be controversial is where the healthcare funding is actually being spent. Some is being directed at the Border practice, which is in Rushmoor. The two local councillors say that whilst the larger proportion has gone to Bartlett, most of it is being directed at their Frimley Green surgery, which is in Surrey Heath, rather than their Ash Vale centre. So it would appear that funds from developers intended to benefit the people of Ash and Tongham are being spent much wider.

Jeremy Hunt, MP for Godalming and Ash, has acknowledged that availability of GP appointments is a top concern for the public in his constituency.

Mr Hunt was asked by The Guildford Dragon whether he agreed that primary healthcare in Ash was facing a crisis in the light of the large number of homes that have been built in the area.

Jeremy Hunt MP

He replied: “Knocking on doors during the general election, availability of GP appointments was a top concern and so I am acutely aware of constituents’ concerns in Ash regarding local provision of GP services. Now is the time for us to look to expand provision especially given the additional homes under construction in the area including Ash Lodge Park. I am happy to support and facilitate exploration of all the options available to us. ”

However, he did not answer our specific question on whether a practical solution to healthcare concerns in Ash would be to build a new primary healthcare surgery on the site set aside by Bewley Homes for such a purpose.

The latest NHS Frimley statement says: “Based on our understanding of the planned population growth in Ash and the subsequent impact on multiple local GP practices, we believe the most viable way to provide for the healthcare needs of the people of Ash is through investment in the existing healthcare estate and services. Therefore, we have successfully accessed section 106 contributions from developers to expand the number of consulting rooms in our existing estate and we intend to make further expansions in forthcoming months. These expansions will adequately provide estate capacity for the planned population growth.

“Alongside this we are continuing to work with local GP practices in their adoption of new technology that makes it easier for patients to contact their practice, to diversify the workforce – making best use of an expanded skillset and providing alternative services for patients who do not need to see their GP to access the care they need.”

A further statement from the NHS said: “The Bartlett Group Practice and The Border Practice both register patients from this area and have been, or are being, supported to expand the number of consulting rooms in their premises. Both GP practices are seeking to increase their workforce due to the actual and planned population growth in this area.”

Meanwhile the land set aside by Bewley for healthcare purposes stands empty.

Back in September 2023 GBC said it was “actively exploring” the use of the land “for community purposes,” but has seemed reticent about providing updates. This week a 21-word statement said: “We have no update to provide at this time. The Council is continuing to work with the developer on this matter.”

Cllr Wyeth-Price is worried that the rising population is putting huge pressure on the Bartlett Practice. She said: “The GP Patient Survey results for Bartlett Group show only 30 per cent of patients found it easy to contact the surgery by phone. We will continue to press for the promised new healthcare facility and David Shaw and I will continue to work with the surgery to help improve services in the future.”

The Bartlett Group Practice has just announced that it is upgrading its online consultation tool to Rapid Health, with the official launch set for November. This new system has been designed to offer faster, more efficient access to care.