Steeple Bumpstead Surgery to become a branch of Christmas Maltings and Clements Surgery


Steeple Bumpstead Surgery to become a branch of Christmas Maltings and Clements Surgery

From the 31st October 2019, the Steeple Bumpstead Surgery will become a branch of the Christmas Maltings and Clements Surgery in Haverhill.

This change is happening because, as a small, stand-alone surgery, it became difficult for the current provider, ‘Provide Community Interest Company’ (CIC), to attract and retain staff.

There are currently no permanent doctors or nurses at the site. The provider of General Practitioner (GP) services at the Steeple Bumpstead Surgery will also change from Provide Community Interest Company CIC to the Suffolk GP Federation.

The revised opening times for the Steeple Bumpstead Branch Surgery will be:

  • Tuesdays – 08:00 to 18:30
  • Wednesdays – 08:00-13:00
  • Thursdays – 08:00 to 18:30

When the Surgery is closed or appointments are not available, patients will be invited to attend either Clements or Kedington Surgery and will have access to a full range of general medical services. Clements Surgery is four miles by road from Steeple Bumpstead and there is a good bus service and parking facilities available.

From 31st October, patients who need an appointment should ring the reception at Clements Surgery on 01440 841 300.

To ensure all patients have access to the services they will need in the long term, Suffolk GP Federation are actively recruiting one additional doctor and a nurse to support up to 2,500 new patients from Steeple Bumpstead, who are joining the Christmas Maltings and Clements Surgery

Dr Tom Curtis, Primary Care Medical Director for Suffolk GP Federation said: “The Steeple Bumpstead Surgery was in a very difficult situation following the withdrawal of the current provider.  We felt it was in the best interests of both Steeple Bumpstead and Christmas Maltings and Clements patients for The Federation to step-in and provide as orderly a transition as possible.

Without such a move, the Steeple Bumpstead patients may have been dispersed with less time for neighbouring practices to plan and adapt.  Primary care remains under great pressure, but with CCG support, we aim to help minimise disruption and build a sustainable practice for the future.”

Kate Vaughton, Chief Operating Officer at West Suffolk CCG, said: “We are happy to help support these new patients. Of course, people have a choice of where they have their care. Our Suffolk services will be extended to those people in this practice area.”

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 What does this mean for me as a patient?

  • Introduction of more staff, such as Nurse Prescribers, Emergency Care Practitioners, Physician Associates, Physiotherapists and Pharmacists, who will speak to or see patients where appropriate
  • We are currently appointing an Emergency Care Practitioner
  • We will continue to involve patients in the management of the practice and would welcome Steeple Bumpstead representation at the Christmas Maltings and Clements Patient Participation Group (PPG)
  • The Steeple Bumpstead Surgery will be closing at 3pm on Wednesday 30th October and re-open on Tuesday 5th November to allow time for the IT transition to happen.
  • During this closure, more appointments will be made available for both Clements and Steeple Bumpstead patients, but will be held at either the Clements or the Kedington site.

 

Q2 How and where will I book appointments?

  • From 31st October, if you need an appointment, please ring the reception at Clements Surgery on 01440 841 300
  • Appointments will now be available for patients at Clements/Kedington and Steeple.
  • We will soon be introducing eConsult, an online system that enables additional access to our services. Patients will be able to go to the Surgery Website and select options to contact the Surgery, ranging from appointments for the Doctors, to requesting blood results.
  • The Surgery will announce when this service can be used.
  • This will reduce the amount of time patients are waiting on the phone to speak to reception to make an appointment.
  • Further information about Christmas Maltings and Clements Surgery can be found on the website: http://www.christmasandclements.co.uk

 

Q3 What if I have a complaint about these changes?

  • Please contact West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 389 6819
    E-mail: pals@suffolk.nhs.uk

 

Q4 Will there be more change in the future?

  • Over time, Suffolk GP Federation will look to develop services at the Steeple Bumpstead Practice
  • Patients will be kept up-to-date with any changes through regular newsletters and posts on our website

Q5 Who are the Suffolk GP Federation?

  • Suffolk GP Federation are a not-for-profit organisation that represents and is owned by most of the GP practices in Suffolk. It employs 650 staff and is growing rapidly.
  • It runs several services in Suffolk including community-based ultrasound, cardiology and urology clinics as well as managing all diabetes care in North East Essex.
  • It also runs Walton Surgery in Felixstowe, Kirkley Mill Surgery in Lowestoft and Christmas Maltings and Clements Practice in Haverhill.
    For more information, visit suffolkfed.org.uk.


View the full version of our FAQs here.

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