Suffolk East Primary Care Trusts
Stow Lodge Centre
Chilton Way
Stowmarket
IP14 1TZ

15 November 2005

Tel: 01449 618240, Fax: 01449 673959

E-mail: norman.foster@centralsuffolk-pct.nhs.uk

Dear Parish Clerk

Possible new premises for Holbrook GP Practice

As you know, last year, we visited several Parishes in the Shotley Peninsula to gauge feelings of public and patients about the situation of a larger GP Practice on the Peninsula.

As we pointed out at the meetings, the Practice, currently operating from premises in both Holbrook and Shotley, already has around the maximum number of patients for the number of Doctors and other health professionals working in it. The idea is that sometime in the future, particularly as the potential Ganges development is now more likely, a new single premises would be provided somewhere in a central location on the Peninsula. Unfortunately, there is no way that either of the
existing premises can be expanded.

At the meetings we had with the various Parishes we were keen to learn how people might be able to cope with having one Practice on the Peninsula instead of two. Some Parishes actually sent out questionnaires and we now have the results of all of these. It has been a little time in pulling these together as the return from Shotley was only available around a month ago. There were many very helpful comments regarding
transport issues and in particular the road infrastructure. Overall, slightly in excess of 69% of respondents across the peninsula would be happy to travel up to 5 miles to visit a GP practice. Clearly this helps us greatly and offers flexibility when we are looking for a site.

We cannot give any firm timescales for any new premises because, as we explained at the meetings, all bids for new GP Practices have to compete. Clearly, those with the highest priority will need to be carried out first. This scheme is not one of those and, as such, will be unlikely to be effected in the next two or three years.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all respondents and to the Parish Councils in particular for hosting events and being so proactive in giving us the help that we needed.

Regards,

Norman Foster

Health Improvement Director

• GP practice
• NHS services for Shotley
• Notes for discussion at public meeting, 1 December 2004
• If you have an opinion about these issues, or other general comments, please tell us.