Another service provider to be found to run medical centre in High Wycombe

Following a survey by the NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, another service provider will be found to run the Chiltern House Medical Centre in Temple End, High Wycombe.

Following the dissolution of the partnership and end of the GMS contract at Chiltern House Medical Centre (CHMC) in July 2018, Buckinghamshire CCG has ensured continuity of services at the Chiltern House Medical Centre by awarding an interim contract to PCMS for up to 12 months, to June 2019.

Over the last few months, NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been asking for the views of patients, public and the staff at Chiltern House Medical Centre about the future of the practice of 7,000 patients based in High Wycombe.

The survey was available online, with paper copies sent to patients over 65. Further copies were available at the practice and local pharmacies. Meetings were held with the Patient Participation Group and staff at the practice, as well as with other practices in the area that cover High Wycombe and Holmer Green.

A total of 1,124 members of the public took part in a survey. As a result of the feedback from this and other engagement, the CCG has agreed that Option 3, reprocurement, is taken forward. This means another service provider will be found to run the practice.

Nicola Lester, Director of Transformation at Bucks CCG said: ‘The majority of people who took part in the survey, and those we spoke to at meetings, said that they preferred the option of keeping the practice open by finding another service provider rather than dispersing the list (Option 3).

This option means that we will now look for a suitable provider who can provide high quality care for the patients registered at Chiltern House Medical Centre.

This option will require us to carry out further engagement with patients, staff and stakeholders to see what services they need Chiltern House Medical Centre to provide.

We are aware that, since July 2018, patients at the practice have undergone a period of uncertainty and change and we would like to thank everyone involved for their patience and cooperation.

We will continue to work with Chiltern House Medical Centre to ensure that services continue as normal while we carry out these next steps.‘

The new provider of services is expected to be in place by late summer 2019. In the meantime regular updates will be published on the www.letstalkhealthbucks.nhs.uk website.

A report containing recommendations and the results of the survey was sent to the CCG’s Primary Care Commissioning meeting on Thursday 6th December 2018 which it can be viewed.

On Friday 7th September 2018 the practice closed their surgery at Dragon Cottage in Holmer Green after the lease was not renewed.