Priority Needs Of Patients Seem Low In Possible Closures Of Five Guildford GP Surgeries

Published on: 21 Oct, 2019
Updated on: 24 Oct, 2019

By Fiona Davidson

R4GV Group Chair

More news has emerged after the recent Dragon article about the possible closure of five GP surgeries (Guildowns and Woodbridge Hill) in the borough.

Guildford and Waverley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), responsible for GP services in Guildford, held a meeting for “key stakeholders”, including Guildford councillors. I attended on behalf of R4GV Cllr Deborah Seabrook, who had another Council commitment.

I am now better-informed, but I heard nothing to reassure me that the views and concerns of patients and residents will have much influence in the final decision on where or how many new sites will replace the five surgeries.

The CCG itself has no funds to build and equip new premises. Whether either one or two sites may be the preferred solution will come down to a financial business case, and the ability of the CCG to find a capital source willing to develop and equip premises for GPs.

The NHS financial model is that the CCG would then lease the property. Three potential funders were identified as Guildford Borough Council, NHS Property and developers. Of these, a developer was cited as the most likely source.

Even if the CCG’s financial business case was to support the development of two sites (which seems unlikely), to find funding for two sites may not be possible.

The greatest public concern about the closure of the existing surgeries is the accessibility of the new site or sites, availability of public transport, car-parking and travel times, due to congestion.

But for such concerns to attract much weighting in a financial business case or to feature much in a developer’s investment criteria is unlikely.

The two potential sites being considered are beside King’s College School in Park Barn, and the Jarvis Centre in Stoughton. The Jarvis centre, owned by the NHS, is potentially the most cost-effective option, but patients in West and South Guildford (now served by Guildowns surgeries) who need public transport would have to change buses in the town centre.

If the financial business case or the appetite of funders extends to just a single site, one can only hope the CCG will take account of patients’ predominant concerns and investigate a brownfield site in the town centre, which they admit provides the best transport links.

For many reasons, the delivery of primary health care is changing, and patients must come to terms with these changes. Finance is a key driving factor.

Larger GP surgeries with more facilities are more economically viable. We are told GPs no longer want to own their surgeries and wish to sell them.

To think that patients’ views and concerns will play a large part in shaping the location of new GP surgeries in Guildford would be great. But I suspect, as with so many other public consultations, the stark reality is that they won’t.

The present timescale, to open new premises for Guildowns and Woodbridge Hill surgeries in January 2023, looks optimistic. What happens if this timescale can’t be met?

That the CCG has no plans to accommodate additional needs between now and 2023 is extremely concerning. Although the Guildowns Practice is no longer taking new patients, the population of Guildford is forecast to continue to grow at least at the same pace as over the past five years, and the university is planning a significant expansion.

Other surgeries in Guildford are also closing imminently (New Inn, St. Nicolas). What we need is a strategic approach for Guildford from the CCG. This is not what we’re getting.