HC Deb 25 February 2004 vol 418 cc490-4W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans to close general practitioner surgeries in(a) Holland-on-Sea and (b) Great Clacton in Tendring Primary Care Trust. [155120]

Dr. Ladyman

It is this Government's policy, within the framework set out in the NHS Plan and the Shifting the Balance of Power initiative, to devolve funding decisions to the front line. It is now for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community.

The Colchester and Tendring Local Improvement Finance Trust project board is committed to significantly improve services and facilities in the area. Tendring PCTs plan is to develop one purpose-built health centre that will incorporate four local surgeries on one site in the local areas. Therefore, the surgeries are not being closed but re-sited.

The proposal is to centralise services on the Kennedy Way site with two satellite surgeries; one in Holland-On-Sea and the other in Great Clacton. The distance from the existing practices to the proposed new centre is approximately one mile. The satellite facilities will provide services to those patients who are unable to travel.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation has been undertaken by Tendring Primary Care Trust regarding the proposed closure of general practitioner surgeries in Holland-On-Sea. [155121]

Dr. Ladyman

I am advised that Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) extended its original consultation period so that it ran from mid January 2003 to mid March 2003 in order for option appraisals to be undertaken. Public consultation meetings were held, consultation documents were circulated, an appraisal workshop was also held and the PCT corresponded with the public and local councillors.

The PCT held an option appraisal day, which was attended by member of the public, resident associations, the Community Health Council and health professionals. The outcome of the option appraisal day was unanimous support for developing the Kennedy Way site.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what sites were considered by Tendring Primary Care Trust for its new headquarters; [155122]

(2) what sites were considered by Tendring Primary Care Trust to replace general practitioner surgeries due to be closed in (a) Holland-on-Sea and (b) Great Clacton. [155123]

Dr. Ladyman

Tendring Primary Care Trust, in partnership with Tendring District Council and local estate agents, undertook an exhaustive search for a site best befitting the necessary criteria for a new health centre. The key criteria wereThe site needs to be large enough for the proposed health centre, which means it has to be 1.25 acres. The site needs to be central within the Holland-on-Sea/Great Clacton area.

Clacton and Holland-on-Sea
Service cluster Includes:
Central Clinical Services Security
Essential Clinical Services General Practitioner services
Nurse Practitioner services
Nurse Led Services Chronic disease management
Health promotion (expand family planning and sexual heath, diagnostics-visiting GP)
Special provision for teenagers
Vaccinations and immunisations
Contraception
Child Health
Cervical Cytology
Chronic Disease Management Diabetic services (more multidisciplinary team)
Chiropody
Eye
Dietetics
Podiatry
COPD/Asthma
Chromic management eye Diseases
Optometry (multidisciplinary)
Coronary Heart Disease
Hypertension
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Heart Failure Assessment
Diagnostics Warfarin & DVT Monitoring
One stop near patient testing
Visiting echo
Ultrasound
Osteoporosis assessment
Blood tests/phlebotomy
ECG
Future possibility of X-ray and Ultrasound
(PACS)
Health Promotion Prevention has close links with rehabilitation
Smoking Cessation
Teenage Advisory Clinic
Information Zone

The site needs to be available for immediate purchase. The site needs to be allocated for development within the local plan.

Kennedy Way was chosen as the preferred option.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of the new surgery general practitioners centre in Kennedy Way, Clacton-on-Sea; and what proportion of the site will be occupied by primary care trust administration. [155124]

Dr. Ladyman

Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) is currently consulting staff, local councillors and residents' representatives on the range of services to be provided from the centre.

The PCT's current estimated figure is £7 million for the health centre and PCT headquarters which it is currently estimated to be split as, £5 million for the health centre and £2 million for the PCT headquarters (these figures are subject to change according to the final service model adopted). The premises will then be leased through the Local Improvement Finance Trust over a 20 year period.

In addition to general practice, additional services will be available from the new site. These are shown in the table. However, until the range of services to be offered is agreed and costed, the PCT is at present unable to define what proportion of the accommodation will be given over to PCT administration. However, the PCT estimates that the large majority of accommodation will be for healthcare provision.

Clacton and Holland-on-Sea
Service cluster Includes:
Rehabilitation Services Post discharge stroke
Musculo-skeletal assessment Falls Prevention
Cardiac rehabilitation
Heart Failure rehabilitation
Musculo-skeletal clinic
District Nursing Service Leg ulcer clinics (dermatology, vascular, district nurses)
Community paramedics
District Nurse Base
Leg Ulcer Clinic
Continence Clinic
Equipment Store
Health Visiting Service Health Visitor base
Mental Health Services Substance misuse
Community Psychiatric Services
Child and Family Consultation Service
CMHT
Memory clinic
Counselling
Social Services Vulnerable adults
Child Protection
Social Worker Base
Voluntary Sector Care Advisor service
Shared resources
Advisory Clinics
Outpatient Service Ophthalmology
Explore paediatric outreach
Dermatology
Neurology Outpatients
Dermatology outpatients
Care of the Elderly Outpatients
Urology
Community Dental Services Community Dental Services
Audiology Hearing Tests
Hearing Aid Clinic
Podiatry/chiropody Podiatry/chiropody
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Base for PALs service
Dispensary/pharmacy Integration
Cafeé Café
Children's Services Paediatric child health
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Speech and language
School nursing
Disability nursing
Children's outreach
Children's continence services
Nursery services
Child protection

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recommendation of Tendring Community Health Council was in the consultation on(a) moving the Primary Care Trust headquarters and (b) closing (i) Frinton Road Medical Centre and (ii) the Grove Lodge general practitioner surgery. [155125]

Dr. Ladyman

This information is not collected centrally.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to close further general practitioner surgeries in the Tendring Primary Care Trust area after the proposed closure of Frinton Road Medical Centre and the Grove Lodge general practitioner surgery. [155126]

Dr. Ladyman

We have no plans to close general practitioner surgeries in the Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) area.

However, we are advised that Tendring PCT states that these practices are not closing but relocating to a new purpose-built facility with a wider range of services being offered under the national health service Local Improvement Finance Trust.

The local NHS has no plans to close practices in Tendring; and 75 per cent. of practices have been expanded with additional doctors and nurses, using personal medical services growth money.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds are being provided by Tendring Primary Care Trust to transport residents of Holland-On-Sea to the new Kennedy Way general practitioner surgery in Clacton-on-Sea; and for what period this funding is assured. [155127]

Dr. Ladyman

I am advised by Tendring Primary Care Trust that funding for transporting residents is currently under review.