maple surgery

patient participation group

letter regarding surgery contract tendering process

Dear Mr Lansley,

I am writing to you in my capacity as the Secretary of the Maple Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG). We are a voluntary organisation that seeks to foster the highest possible standard of primary health care at the surgery in Bar Hill by acting as a link between the practice and its patients. The members of the PPG committee are all patients of the Maple Surgery.

The Maple Surgery took over the Bar Hill practice in April 2010. In the past two years, the team has made major improvements to the quality of primary health care which is offered to patients in Bar Hill and surrounding villages. In recognition of this, the PCT extended the initial 18-month contract to three years, until April 2013.

Moreover, in the most recent NHS Quality and Outcomes Framework assessments, the Maple Surgery has achieved excellent results: an overall score of 95.8% in 2010/11 and 100% in 2011/12. Only a tiny minority of practices are awarded a perfect 100%.

However, the PCT has refused to extend the contract beyond April 2013, citing new NHS rules on procurement of primary care services. Instead, the PCT intends to put the contract out to tender.

As a result, the Maple Surgery is facing grave uncertainty over its future in Bar Hill, and this is having a direct impact on patients. Three popular and well-respected GPs has already left the practice to take up more permanent positions elsewhere, and the Maple Surgery is finding it impossible to attract new GPs to fill vacancies whilst its own future remains so uncertain.

The Patient Participation Group is very concerned at the very damaging effect which the PCT's decision is having on patient care. We want to draw your attention in particular to the importance which patients place on continuity of care - knowing that your GP is familiar with your medical history - and on the trust between patient and doctor that is so essential but which can only be built by establishing a long-term relationship.

The patients of the Maple Surgery have already had to endure a major change in the provision of primary care. Now, barely two years later, we face yet another upheaval.

The Patient Participation Group strongly supports the Maple Surgery in its bid for the contract tender for April 2013.

We ask you to publicly recognise the excellent work which the Maple Surgery team has done to improve the standard of patient care since April 2010, and to add your voice to ours to encourage the PCT to re-award the contract to the Maple Surgery.

Yours faithfully

David Harper
On behalf of the Maple Surgery Patient Participation Group
7 August 2012