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Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Jane May (18th Nov 2016 - 08:29:38) Liphook Village Surgery is delighted to announce its plans to merge with The Swan Surgery in Petersfield to form The Swan Medical Group. It has been widely reported in the media that the NHS is facing a particularly challenging time, having to deal with an increasingly aging population which has more complex health needs. But it is not just demands for our services which are increasing. There are also increasing demands on the limited NHS budget, which can only stretch so far. And there are also increasing problems, both locally and nationally, in recruiting GPs and nurses to work in General Practice. Local authorities are also facing the strain on resources for social care, which obviously also has big implications on health. That is why we are acting now, to pool our resources and clinical expertise to ensure the long term sustainability of our Practices and enable us to look at how we can also extend and expand on those services and how – and when – you can access them. We have carefully considered what a merger will mean to you. We believe it to be the best way to ensure that we continue to provide the best service we can to our patients. We see the key reasons and benefits of the merger to be: 1. Improved resilience of NHS services in the locality so we can continue to provide high quality general practice services and also allow us to extend services in the future. 2. Liphook patients will have access to extended hours on Saturdays and early mornings as well as the existing evening surgeries, in addition to greater access to acute, planned and preventative care. 3. Patients will have greater choice of GP as the merger will mean there are 10 Partners (6 male and 4 female) as well as 5 salaried GPs (1 male and 4 female) offering good choice for patients. 4. Patients will have improved access to a highly skilled nursing team offering improved long term condition management for conditions such as asthma, COPD and diabetes. 5. Improved IT systems and telephony supporting a more efficient organisation which will allow economies of scale by sharing back office functions and practice administration.   Our surgery in Liphook will remain open providing care for you but you will also be able to access services through Swan Surgery in Petersfield. We will develop a consistent approach across both sites with services and best practice being extended across the newly merged group over the months ahead. We anticipate that the merger will take 12-18 months to complete but we will be one organisation from 01 April 2017. You will remain with your registered GP at Liphook Village Surgery but you will be able to have greater choice in being treated at a time suitable to them through access to more clinical staff. In a joint statement, Dr Andrew Holden of the Swan Surgery, and Dr Ed Sylvester of Liphook Village Surgery, said “This is a really positive and exciting announcement at a time of significant pressure for the NHS. Our joint vision is to offer our patients simple and reliable access to urgent care services each day, supporting specialist GPs providing planned healthcare interventions including family planning or minor surgery, and co-ordinated management of long term conditions by our joint specialist team. By working together we can also offer greater access to preventative care, such as improving the self-management of illnesses and long term conditions, providing robust services to our frail and vulnerable patients to stop deterioration at a much earlier stage, and extending services in new and exciting ways.” Anyone wishing to raise any concerns can write to or email Jane May, Practice Manager, email janemay@nhs.net

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Lisa (18th Nov 2016 - 19:00:32) Is this a"done deal", in which case I would question any point in raising any concerns or issues as it will not change the fact that it is happening anway?

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - A. Ryan (19th Nov 2016 - 13:19:41) It seems to me that it would have been preferable to have combined the two village surgeries together, instead of having Liphook and Liss and now Liphook surgery melded with Petersfield. It seems foolhardy to get people to travel extra miles to see a doctor in another village when there are already doctors in this village/ town. Are we not supposed to be trying to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum, plus the added stress to the older patients who find travelling difficult. As Liphook expands a Health center along the lines of Haslemere seems to me to be the best idea.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - paul (19th Nov 2016 - 23:17:02) Hi, What happened to the new surgery building that we were going to have on Bohunt manor ground or is that planning ended?

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Ian (20th Nov 2016 - 10:33:58) The proposed new surgery was just a planning tactic to assist in getting the planning application for new homes on Bohunt Manor. I suspect that as that application failed the new surgery won't happen. However the developer has put the 'the shovel in the ground' so he can say to the planners that building work on the surgery has begun so the planning for it won't lapse. Just cynical developer games I'm afraid

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Rachel (21st Nov 2016 - 01:49:38) Not everyone has a car, and it cost over £5 to get to Petersfield on the train! Only car owners who can afford the petrol money may benefit from this merger! As for the Bohunt combined surgery, I think we all knew it was just a ploy to "break ground" sadly.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - M. (21st Nov 2016 - 08:31:33) Please read the following link on Advice from NHS England - www.england.nhs.uk/south/... "It is expected that a degree of consultation has taken place prior to a merger application being submitted." I am very confused - consultation with patients should have taken place before the merger proposal was submitted and yet, on the Village Surgery website the PPG annual newsletter gives no mention of any such merger - so, Village Surgery, who were the patients that were consulted ??? I will not be getting in touch with the surgery as it is difficult enough to get an appt as it is!!!

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - janemay@nhs.net (21st Nov 2016 - 12:06:53) As you know, we have announced our plans to merge the Swan Surgery (Petersfield) and Liphook Village Surgery (Liphook) from April 2017, to form The Swan Medical Group. We strongly believe that this merger will not only provide long-term sustainability for both practices – but it will also open the doors for some further improved services which will benefit all our patients. However, we also appreciate that change can unsettle some people. So we have compiled a list of the 20 top questions which we think you might want answered – and we hope that this helps address any concerns that you might have. But of course, if you have other questions please do get in touch. 1. Will I still be able to visit my current surgery? Yes - there are no plans to change access to your preferred surgery. You will also be able to access the other surgery, if it is more convenient or should you wish to do so. 2. Will I still be able to contact the surgery directly? Yes - you will still be able to contact the surgery directly. A new phone system is being introduced at Swan Surgery and we await to see how best to set this up for The Swan Medical Group, but you will still be able to request to speak to your surgery should you require to do so. 3. Will I still be able to see my usual GP? Yes - you will still be able to see your preferred GP. All staff and partners will be based at their original site but will work across both sites as appropriate so that we ensure the best practices are used across the whole new organisation. This should be very beneficial to staff and patients. 4. Can I see another doctor if I want? Patients will be able to request appointments with any doctor. Across both sites we will have 7 male GPs and 8 female GPs on a regular basis. 5. How will the merger benefit patients? Our larger practice can offer earlier and later appointments – for example, appointments are offered at Swan Surgery from 7am - 8am and at Liphook Village Surgery from 6.30pm - 7.30pm twice a week. There are also Saturday morning appointments available every week at Swan Surgery which will be accessible for all patients from both surgeries. 6. Will any service currently offered be removed or stopped? No – as a result of the merger all previous primary care services offered by the practices will either remain unaffected or will be extended. 7. Will any new services be introduced? We strongly hope so. We are still in the early stages of investigating what services would be appropriate and helpful to our patients but are all committed to improving access to and delivering the best healthcare possible. 8. How will the merger benefit the medical staff at the practice? Medical staff will have a wider pool of knowledge to draw upon and will have more opportunities to specialise; annual and sick leave should be better covered leading to lower stress levels of the remaining staff. Partners will be able to share the ever increasing administrative work load required of them by the Government. 9. Will administrative processes be compromised during the merging of the practices? Merging practices may involve a change of routine for staff. However we would hope to keep inconvenience to patients to a minimum. Please bear with us over the next few months, if you find things take a little longer than usual. But please raise your concerns to the Practice Manager if you are worried about the service you receive. 10. Will staff lose their jobs? No staff will lose their jobs as a result of this merger. 11. How will the other practice have access to my Medical Records and where will these be stored? Both practices use the same clinical software, EMIS WEB. The merge of this data is intended to take place in April 2017 at which time your electronic medical records will be available to any of the clinicians from any of the sites as appropriate for the patient consultation. You may also have older, paper medical records (which are summarised into your electronic records) and these paper notes will continue to be stored at your local practice. 12. Will becoming a larger practice mean losing that friendly family feeling? The Swan Medical Group wants to ensure that patients can continue to see their preferred clinician if they want to. The merging of the practices hopes to make available more services and skills across the sites. The same staff will be on hand to help you access the best possible health care, we believe therefore that it is possible to be a practice that can offer patients a broader range of services, but in a way that preserves the family practice feeling. 13. Do I need to do anything as a patient to remain on the list? No - all patients will remain on their usual GP’s list at their usual surgery. 14. Will the phone number remain the same? At the moment each practice retains their usual number. However, at some point in 2017, the surgery number will change to enable calls to be handled across the merged practices.   15. Will I still have on line access and get text message reminders? Yes - both practices use the same clinical software and will continue to offer on line access through the existing provider, Patient Access. It may be that during the merger of the medical data that this system becomes unavailable for a short time. We will inform you in advance if this is the case. You will still receive text message reminders, if you have signed up for this service, for booked appointments and other health campaigns, eg. flu clinics. The text message reminder service will be available to all patients of The Swan Medical Group from April 2017, please speak to reception staff to find out more information. 16. Will there be more appointments available? We prioritise patient access and review the availability of appointments regularly so all patients have access to the care they need. We will continue to do this to ensure appropriate access for all patients. There will be a greater range of opening hours on offer across all the sites; all registered patients will have access to these appointments. 17. Will the Nurses and Healthcare Assistants be available as often as they are now? Will they also work at the other sites? Yes - we have no intention of reducing appointments. We plan to make available more expertise and skills across the sites for all registered patients. 18. Will I have to go to one of the other sites for particular consultations or treatments? No – however if you find that one site may provide a more appropriate service at a time that suits you – for example, Family Planning clinics held at the Swan Surgery in Petersfield - you may like to or be asked if you are able to attend there. 19. Will the merger affect access to other services such as Community Nurses, midwives, health visitors, counsellors etc.? No - patients under the care of community based services at home or within the practice will not be affected. 20. How will we be kept informed of the merger and changes? Regular newsletters and information will be displayed in surgery and on our practice websites. We hope to keep you as informed as we can with the merger and any changes. We also plan to hold regular Patient Participation Group Meetings and patient surveys to get your feedback on our progress. If you are interested in joining our Patient Participation Group, please ask at Reception.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - M. (21st Nov 2016 - 12:22:36) As my previous post asked - who was consulted ?

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - BigBoy (21st Nov 2016 - 14:34:41) This plan looks to me a very good one. I support it; Well Done the Village Surgery as far as I go. Size matters these days. I imagine the Patient Consultation Group was or is being consulted; anyone can volunteer for the Group, I believe, though often PCGs can be oversubscribed with "old 'uns" - because they have the spare time to volunteer. Should anyone have a worry/concern surely he/she should communicate it to the Surgery as soon as feasible in the way requested?

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Susan (21st Nov 2016 - 15:20:28) Having read Jane May's post this merger looks like a "win/win" situation. If everyone was always consulted about everything nothing would get done or at least not quickly. Look at Brexit! You can never please all of the people all of the time.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - concerned (21st Nov 2016 - 17:32:58) I note the comments regarding electronic records. But I am aware of a number of patients who have opted out of the national record system. I would like clarification that this is going to be honoured.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Lisa (23rd Nov 2016 - 11:14:19) So, as I see it; more patients chasing effectively the same number of appointments at each site - those who are able to travel may possibly be able to get an elusive appointment at either Liphook or Petersfield, but there is no guarantee now that a resident in Liphook will even get an appointment in Liphook, if a Petersfield resident gets there first. Yes, all those in favour, I can really see your logic!

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Susan (23rd Nov 2016 - 15:46:07) Lisa I don't understand your logic. How will merging two surgeries produce more patients?

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Lisa (23rd Nov 2016 - 19:40:06) Susan. There are,according to the NHS website, over 13000 patients currently registered at the Petersfield surgery, who will now have access to Liphook surgery appointments. (Liphook Village surgery have just over 5000 patients currently registered). Hence, there will be ALOT more patients chasing local Liphook appointments. Yes, you may argue that this is a two-way situation in that Liphook residents can now get appointments at Petersfield IF they are able to travel there. However, the idea that you will be able to see your GP of choice seems laughable to me - I can only hope that I am missing something and will be proved completely wrong.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Amy (23rd Nov 2016 - 19:54:25) I also agree this looks like a good idea. Sadly the NHS is in crisis and pooling resources is one way to save money without having a huge impact on patients. Those of you who think appointments are 'elusive' are actually unaware how easy it is to get an appointment in Liphook! I've recently moved from a much smaller village where the doctors, although slightly larger, provides services for all the local villages. It was commonplace to wait 6 weeks to see my doctor there and several months if I wanted to fit around my work! Appointments at liphook are much easier to get and I've been really surprised at the general speed the practice provides in all areas.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Susan (24th Nov 2016 - 14:15:38) If I am understanding you correctly Lisa you agree that there will not be any more patients overall as a result of this merger. You just seem to be worried that Petersfield patients will use the Liphook surgery. Again your logic defeats me. Why should the Petersfield patients drive all the way to Liphook any more than Liphook patients would drive all the way to Petersfield on a regular basis. It doesn't make sense. True, it might happen on some occasions, but as you said it is a reciprocal facility. All the merger is trying to do is to provide a better service for the reasons listed in a previous post on this Thread. I repeat it looks like a win/win situation.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Simon A (24th Nov 2016 - 18:08:19) Twice this year and once last year I have needed to see a doctor, any doctor, urgently at Liphook Village Surgery but was unable to get past reception being told there were no appointments available. I therefore had to go to A&E and get them to make the appointment for me, which on each occasion they were able to do on the same day even though the receptionist told me none were available. It seems an odd system to have to go to hospital in order to see your GP but it seems that is the way it is now. No wonder A&Es are struggling.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Lisa (24th Nov 2016 - 21:46:56) Susan, in response to your last posting: The Practice Manager herself is using the fact that (over 18000) people can now attend either site as one way of "selling" this merger; it is therefore not unreasonable to think that those people who can, WILL travel and this WILL in turn impact on the availability of local appointments and on the ability to see your GP of choice. I sincerely hope that this is not the case, but just as others are entitled to their opinions, so I am entitled to mine. My experience with the surgery as it is has been mixed- I rate my GP very highly but the last time that I needed to see her, was told that I would have to wait nearly 4 weeks. How does the merger solve this? Or will it, as I fear, make the situation far worse, as she will now on occasion also be expected to work at Petersfield? And please, don't just tell me it's a "win/win" with no further justification for a third time - I might just have to get on to the surgery for an emergency appointment to ask them to up my medication if you do!!!! :-)

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - S (25th Nov 2016 - 01:46:36) It is hard enough to get an appointment at the surgery as it is - and although some of the selling points of this merger are valid, it seems to me that the reality will be this: There will be no extra 'out of hours' surgeries - Jane is saying that if Liphook patients wish to have a Saturday or early morning appointment then we can book into Petersfield and travel there (great if you can get there). For me, the two evenings a week of late surgeries are extremely useful - when it is actually possible to get an appointment for them. There is no suggestion that the merger will result in more frequent evening surgeries, and this is obviously a popular time for appointments. In my opinion this merger will lead to Petersfield patients booking appointments in the Liphook evening surgeries - it seems inevitable that commuters will want to take advantage of these prime appointments, creating more congestion for local patients. Knowing how much of a challenge it can be to persuade reception that I have a valid need for an appointment already, I guarantee that the conversation that will start happening is, "We don't have any appointments at the Liphook surgery, but if it really is that urgent then you can take an appointment in Petersfield. -- Oh, well if you don't want an appointment in Petersfield then it can't be that urgent, can it?". Basically forcing patients to travel there.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - TD (25th Nov 2016 - 01:56:28) Just curious to know whether, before approaching the Swan Street Practise in Petersfield any discussions took place about the possibility of Liphook Village Surgery merging with the Newtown Surgery in Station Road? To merge the two practices in the village would have been much more helpful overall to both patients and staff. I don't know the ins and outs of what is required for a successful merger, perhaps the criterion is that the two practices are roughly the same size, and the Newtown surgery didn't qualify on those grounds? No doubt it all comes down to money in the long run. Newtown has already merged with a surgery in Liss.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Helen (25th Nov 2016 - 10:05:18) the mergers are all about better spending power for the GPS if they merge together with another surgery the cost of buying from the local commissioning boards are lower for them both, also staff costs are lower as they can cover for staff absences and sickness, admin costs are lower. The district council has also gone down this road and merged with Havant to reduce costs. GPs surgeries are run like businesses now and they are accountable for how much money they spend on drugs and services.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - H (25th Nov 2016 - 11:04:23) Don't know what all the fuss is about! We use Badgerswood Surgery (we live near Conford ) & they merged with Forest Surgery in Bordon. Often if appointments are unavailable we go to the Forest Surgery instead, things like the flu jab etc. Can't fault either surgery and the system works very well. Also both have a chemist on site. Helpful receptionists too ! The benefits of a merger outweigh the cons . The world is a busy place, gone are the days when you could ring for an appointment & get seen that day. They are all under pressure & services are stretched.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - D (25th Nov 2016 - 16:59:12) We are registered with the Liphook and Liss Surgery in Newtown and find having the option of using both surgeries very convenient, we are able to drive so can appreciate others can't access the other surgery but they will still be able to use their local surgery, albeit with not so many appointment options. You mustn't forget that doctors surgeries are not part of the NHS but are in fact private enterprises funded by the NHS. Because of that they will always make decision not only based on their "Customer" requirements but also on Business (Financial) requirements.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Susan (25th Nov 2016 - 17:42:02) Lisa, at the risk of repeating myself, overall there are no extra patients - it seems to me that your objection to the merger is the fact that there will be greater flexibility and choice for patients which will work both ways. As you will see from Helen's post mergers are most cost effective in these challenging times and if you read H's post you will see that I am not the only one who thinks that the merger and I won't use the phrase that you have issues with, has many advantages.

Re: Liphook Village Surgery Merger - Paul E (27th Nov 2016 - 16:34:02) If required, would a hospital referral still be at The Royal Surrey? Or elsewhere?

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