Kingsley Branch Surgery Closure
We are committed to providing the best possible service to our patients and local communities and are therefore taking the decision to officially close our branch surgery in Kingsley.
When the closure goes ahead, you will see no change in services as a result.
· You will be able to see the same doctors and nurses you do now and have access to others if you don’t have a preferred GP or nurse.
· Opening times at the main surgery will remain the same.
· All clinics and support services will remain the same.
· We will continue to dispense to our dispensing patients.
We are making the decision to close the branch surgery, as we believe this will help to ensure the practice remains able to provide high quality services in the future as we manage the increasing pressures on the practice. A single site practice and staff base will help us to address some of these challenges. If you have any other questions or feedback about the proposed closure, then please talk to the practice staff when you are next in the practice or you can contact us in the following ways:
Tel: 01928 733249
Email: knoll.surgery@nhs.net
This must be submitted before 18th October 2024.
If you have concerns but don’t feel you can talk to practice staff, you can talk to Healthwatch. Healthwatch is the statutory independent consumer champion for users of health and social care services. It listens to, advises, and speaks up on behalf of consumers. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss these changes with Healthwatch Cheshire West on 0300 323 0006
We would again like to take this opportunity to reassure you that you don’t need to take any action and you can continue to access your GP in the normal way. The final decision on the proposed branch surgery closure will be made by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board on 13th November 2024.
We have put together some FAQs that should answer any questions or concerns that you may have:
Why are we making this change?
The Branch surgery has been closed since March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The building does not currently meet the required levels of infection control and we are unable to release clinicians working at the main surgery, as they are needed to clinically supervise staff, supervise trainee GPs and work as part of our clinical hub.
The branch surgery has not been used in over 4 years and patients will continue to use the wide variety of appointment types at Princeway Health Centre.
Since the branch closed in March 2020, we have added new roles to the surgery, such as GP trainees, Paramedics, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Mental Health Practitioners, all of whom need daily clinical supervision from the GPs. Due to this, we would be unable to send a GP to the branch surgery, as they are needed at the surgery. It will also add stability to our administrative team, as having to cover the branch surgery takes capacity away from answering the phones at the surgery.
The branch surgery has depreciated to an unsatisfactory level of healthcare premises and would require significant investment to bring it up to an acceptable level. Neither the surgery or the NHS have funds to achieve this.
What does it mean for you as our patient?
You won’t see any change to the service and day to day running of the practice, you can still see the same doctors or nurses and get all the services you have been receiving from Princeway for the last 4 years.
Would there be any changes to how you access the GP out of hours service?
No, there would be no change. You can contact the surgery to discuss using the out of hours service or the extended hours service.
Would you need to re-register to remain on the practice list?
No. The branch surgery in Kingsley belongs to The Knoll Surgery. Patients will be seen at Princeway instead of at Kingsley.
Would this affect any treatment or medication you are currently receiving either at the GP practice or any hospital?
No, All prescription requests will continue to be processed as they are now, via EPS (electronic prescribing service), and will be sent to the pharmacy of your choice. If you haven’t already, you can sign up to the NHS app on your phone or online. This allows you to easily view and order your medication.
We will continue to dispense for our dispensing patients. Patient can choose to collect their medication from Princeway or have their medication delivered to their home, free of charge.
Any current treatments, medications or any investigations that you are receiving from any hospital or other healthcare provider would be unaffected by the closure of the branch surgery.
How can you have a say in these changes?
We welcome all feedback regarding this decision and about the practice in general. We have consulted with our Patient Participation Group, and we are working with our local commissioner of health services (Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board) and to formally close the branch surgery. You can provide us with your feedback regarding this decision either via:
email: knoll.surgery@nhs.net
in writing: The Knoll Surgery, Princeway Health Centre, 2 Princeway. Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6RX
This must be submitted before 18th October 2024.
Do you have a choice?
Whilst we would be keen for you to stay with our practice, if you don’t want to be a patient for any reason, you can choose another GP practice instead.
You can find another GP practice by
· Visiting: www.nhs.uk – scroll down to ‘find a GP practice’
· Calling: Healthwatch Cheshire West on 0300 323 0006
Once you have chosen which GP practice you would like to join, you can contact the new practice to find out how to become a patient.
When the closure goes ahead would there be changes to the way you book appointments?
No. You would continue to contact the surgery on 01928 733249.
Having your say in the future
The practice is committed to improving the services we provide to our patients. To do this it is vital that we hear from patients about their experiences, views and ideas for making the services better. These can be emailed to knoll.surgery@nhs.net
We also have a Patient Participation Group (PPG), which is a group of patients who meet with the surgery on a monthly basis to hear updates, provide feedback and work with the surgery on patient focused projects. You can contact the PPG for more information by emailing knollsurgeryppg@gmail.com
What happens next?
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB will review the overall business case for the branch surgery closure and make a decision whether to approve the proposal on 13th November 2024. If this decision is approved, then the branch surgery will remain closed.
Published on 2 October 2024