Merger Information

Introduction

The Stag Holyrood Surgery and The Sheldon Practice have been working as two separate practices with a common management team of Dr Vidya Patel and Mr Suresh H Vaghela since 2012.   The practices now wish to formally merge. This brief note explains the rationale behind the decision and the positive impact it will have on patients and practice staff.

Why merge the practices?

Merging the practices provides opportunities for improving services to patients by providing:

• More robust back office services for patients at both sites leading to faster processing of prescriptions and referrals.
• Access to specialist clinics at different times of day including the evening
• Flexibility as to where a patient can see a clinician
• A broader range of skilled clinicians to support their care
• Continuity of service during clinician holidays/absences
• Sharing of specialist skills between the sites
• Improve telephone response time and sign posting.

Our practice will become one with a patient population of circa 6,000 which is more in line with the NHS England requirements for bigger practices. It allows us to have a stronger voice in the development of the local primary care networks as outlined by the government in the NHS long term plan.

What differences will you see in the short term?

We plan to rename the practices Jai Medical Centre (Brent) so you will see some changes in our logo and branding however nothing else will change. As a patient you will still see the same General Practitioners, Nurse, Nurse Practitioners, Advance Nurse Practitioner, Health Care Assistant and reception staff to support you in your care journey.

The practices will continue in the same premises that you now attend.  You will be able to see a clinician at either of the sites.

We plan to continue the development of our online access and use of technology where it benefits you and provides efficiencies for the practices in delivery of services.

As time progresses, you should see improvements in efficiency and responsiveness to your requirement across both sites as we change some of our administrative processes. We will have a larger pool of resources that we can draw on across both sites providing a wider range of services at different times of the day.

Who will work in the merged practices?

The current team will remain in each of the practices however the management see the opportunity to recruit additional skills to support both sites ensuring equity of access. Dr Patel will continue to be the named GP for both practices.

Benefits to patients

Access to a clinician will be improved as patients can have an appointment at either site should they wish to.

A wider range of services will be available to patients across the merged practices:

• More nursing clinics available – Smear, Child Immunisation, Minor ailment
• Better Mental health support
• Provision of services such as ECG negating the need to visit hospital
• Access to clinics managed by General Practitioners with special interest e.g. Gynaecology; Diabetes
• Access on telephone for advice
• Access on telephone for better care navigation

Reception will be streamlined; telephone calls will be sorted with a menu which will direct the call to the most appropriate specialist staff member. The staff member will be able to navigate you to the appropriate clinician e.g. Nurse with interest in respiratory, diabetes or hypertension.  Telephone consultations will improve for advice and care navigation to the appropriate clinician or community services.

Another benefit will be improved cover for all types of staff leave/absences providing continuity of patient care and not reliant on temporary and locum or agency staff.  Staff teams will be able to meet regularly (they already do) and share problems and discuss options for resolution.

A key aspect of this merger will be the merger of the medical record systems at each surgery; this process is the subject of detailed planning and subject to tests and checks for validity as the merger progresses.   The paper records will be held at one surgery but digitised patient data will be available in both sites ensuring continuity of care.  Confidentiality, as usual, will be ensured.

What will happen with the Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

The PPG will continue at each individual location and suggestion to have one meeting with both sides present would be recommended.  Patient participation group members from either location may attend meeting at both sites.  The practices are considering virtual patient group membership to enhance what we already have.

Locations of the two Practices:

Both the practices fall under BrentCCG, therefore access to services in the community will not be affected. The patient would be able to access service at either of the locations.  It would open up capacity to take on additional patient.

Both the practice achieved high in the Quality of Framework, Friend and family test response from 500 patients showed 312 (62%) would extremely likely recommend the practice and 126 (25%)  would likely recommend.  The Mori poll survey available onhttps://www.gp-patient.co.uk/ also shows high satisfaction from patient on various aspects.  With the merger there is further room for improving on these areas.

Improved cover for all types of staff leave/absences by other members of the team providing continuity of patient care and not reliant on temporary and locum or agency staff.  Staff teams will be able to meet regularly (they already do) and share problems and discuss options for resolution.

Improved management of task allocation, opportunity to develop new skills within each department and continuous training. Dedicated personnel to take lead for certain departments, e.g. IT, Reception; Procurement; Clinical Management.

Merger Information and FAQ