June 11, 2012 
The NHS Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Cluster Board have given the go ahead to proposed plans to merge and relocate practices in West Bridgford. The decision was taken at the Board meeting on 31 May.
Four GP practices will be merged and relocated – Ludlow Hill Surgery, Trent Bridge Medical Practice, Compton Acres Medical Centre and Southview Surgery - and in addition Musters Medical Practice, operating as a separate practice, will also be relocated. They will move to planned new premises on Wilford Lane, West Bridgford.
The new purpose designed and built premises will be ‘fit for purpose’ and offer patients a greater range of locally based services like physiotherapy, minor surgery, phlebotomy and extended hours to see a GP; with full disabled facilities and free parking.
Dr Trevor Mills, NHS Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County’s Medical Director, said, “This project is led by a group of West Bridgford GP’s, who have been working on this project for a number of years with the objective to develop and extend the quality of care and range of services offered to their patients. Now that the proposal has been approved, the GP’s, their patient participation groups and the PCT will continue to actively engage with patients and the public to develop the plans further, and ensure any outstanding issues are addressed.”
“This planned new health facility is good news for the 28,000 patients in West Bridgford, registered with these 5 practices who, at last, can look forward to receiving comprehensive primary care services in modern up to date surroundings.”
A public engagement exercise was carried out earlier this year to hear the views of the 28,000 patients registered at the five practices. Around 900 patients attended dedicated events and over 4,000 responses were received, which were broadly in support of the plans. The five practice’s patient participation groups have all been actively involved and support the relocation plans.
Two main concerns were raised by patients during the public engagement exercise - the ability to continue seeing the same doctor, and transport to the new location. Local GP’s are committed to ensuring that patients can continue to see the same doctor. Bancroft Transport Consultancy Services were commissioned to review travel and access issues around Wilford Lane to address the second concern; work on a green travel and access plan is ongoing.
The NHS Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Cluster Board has approved the full business case, subject to ongoing assurances from the GP’s leading the project to continue to address patient concerns about transport.
Seems like everything is being put on the Wilford Lane – no-one thinks about the residents! Tram stops, major schools, Forest Academy, Roko, Medical Centre serving the whole of West Bridgford, and possibly (more than likely) a Sainsburys superstore – what else can be squeeze onto the Lane?