Cash windfall for surgeries

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Patients are set to benefit from a £20million cash injection to improve local GP surgeries.

NHS Hammersmith and Fulham has outlined the plans as part of its new five-year strategy to improve local health services.

The national magazine for GPs, Pulse, raised concerns that the NHS was shelving planned improvements in the face of the credit crunch.

Local surgeries were highlighted as representing the level of work needed to meet the latest standards for issues such as disabled access and cleanliness.

Sarah Whiting, managing director of NHS Hammersmith and Fulham (pictured), said: "There certainly aren't any plans to cut back on improvements to local GP surgeries. Giving doctors and their patients the best possible environment to work, and be treated in, is essential.

"We have a long list of work which will be happening over the coming years. Our focus to improve services in the north of the borough is a major new health centre being built in White City, in partnership with H&F Council.

"Due to open in late 2011, the new White City health centre will give a modern new home for local health and social care professionals, and allow us to offer treatments and tests which people currently have to go to hospital to get."

Meanwhile in Fulham, Ms Whiting highlighted the planned refurbishment of the former nursing home in 115a Wandsworth Bridge Road.

"The refurbishment will provide a new home for GPs currently working in poor-quality, cramped surgeries close by," said Ms Whiting.

Research by an independent group of surveyors in 2009 using Department of Health data identified 13 local surgeries which need significant refurbishment or relocation to modern buildings.

Ms Whiting added: "In a few cases, such as the current surgeries in Wandsworth Bridge Road, the only option is to find a new base for the doctors and their teams.

"Disabled access is essential, but can be almost impossible in surgeries split over several floors in converted Victorian houses.

"On a smaller scale, smaller renovations are needed, such as replacing carpets with washable vinyl flooring and putting a fresh coat of washable paint on the walls.

"It won't all happen overnight, but we're committing £20m to make sure that by 2013 no GP surgery falls below acceptable standards.

"Our aim is to improve local people's health by making sure GP teams can offer the highest quality care and the widest possible range of support - all delivered from comfortable, clean buildings."