Health bosses have opened a consultation on plans to move a GPs' surgery 2.2 miles across Cramlington
Patients in Cramlington are now able to give feedback on the scheme which would see the Brockwell Medical Group move from its current Northumbrian Road premises to a new site on the ground floor of the planned health and education centre of excellent at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH).
Dr Aamir Munir, the executive partner at the practice, said the building used now had become outdated.
Go here for the latest NHS news and breaking North East public health news
He said: "Brockwell Surgery is 30 years old and lacks the space and facilities needed to deliver modern healthcare into the future and for a growing healthcare team. Access to clinical rooms is tight and not designed for disabled access, it is difficult to have sensitive or confidential conversations in the reception area due to lack of space and staff facilities are also very limited.
"Working with other healthcare and local authority colleagues and those from the voluntary sector is crucial to ensure our patients see the right person when they need to and that their care is personalised and joined up. Our current lack of space and facilities restricts us from doing this."
The new building at the health and education centre should be ready by autumn 2023 - it will be entirely separate to the main NSECH hospital building.
Dr Munir explained that "patient care and the patient and staff experience would improve significantly" should the move go ahead. He said the new premises would include a large reception area, consulting and treatment rooms, IT access and WiFi.
There would also be, he said, a children's play area and free parking.
Dr Munir said helping patients get to the new premises was also part of the plan.
"We are also mindful that we need to ensure our patients could easily get to the relocated site. We are working with local partners, including Age UK, to identify alternative transport options so that patients, including those who don’t have their own car, can get to the proposed new site.
"We are, of course, also considering our elderly, vulnerable and frail patients as part of these discussions."
The consultation period will last six weeks and patients at the practice can take part in a number of ways.
There is an online survey open until March 22, while reception staff at the practice have hard copy versions of the form. There will be face-to-face patient surveys during the week of February 28, while focus groups will be held at the Cramlington Community Hub on March 1.
Drop-in engagement sessions for "patients and stakeholders" are also planned to take place between 2pm and 4pm and between 5pm and 7pm on February 17 at the community hub - which is on the top floor of the Manor Walks shopping centre.
The watchdog Healthwatch Northumberland is also holding online engagement sessions on February 21 (6 until 7pm) and February 28 (1 'til 2pm). For details of these events contact Helen Brown - helenb@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk.
Feedback can also be provided via email either to Healthwatch (info@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk) or directly to the practice at norccg.valensmedical@nhs.net.
To find out more about the engagement surveys, visit bit.ly/3GPVbBR
