From Clare Delap, Engagement Lead, NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group
I am writing to let you know about some changes to local GP services and to ask for your views.
Not registered with a GP service in Medway?
If, like many students, you spend more weeks of the year at your university address than your family’s address, you need to register with a GP near your university as soon as possible.
That way you can receive emergency care if you need it, and access health services quickly and easily while you’re away.
See information on how to register with a GP.
For students using GP services in Medway
NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is planning the future of five GP sites in Medway:
- St Mary’s Island Surgery, Chatham
- Green Suite at Balmoral Gardens Healthy Living Centre, Gillingham
- Twydall Clinic, Twydall
- Pentagon Centre (Boots), Chatham
- Sunlight Centre Surgery, Gillingham
The five sites were previously managed by DMC Healthcare until July 2020 when, following concerns about quality and safety, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) took urgent enforcement action. The CCG then awarded a 12-month contract to Medway Practices Alliance Ltd (MPA). MPA, which is rated ‘good’ by the CQC, is the GP federation that brings together practices and GPs from across Medway to provide quality healthcare.
We know that many students from the University of Kent Medway Campus are registered at Pentagon and the Sunlight Centre. If you are registered with any of these practices, please be assured that you do not need to do anything as services will continue to be provided by MPA until September. You can contact your surgery in the usual way on 01634 890712.
The CCG has been hearing from patients and local communities and is currently speaking to local GPs to make a long-term plan for all the patients registered.
It is important that we also hear from students. To give us your views please email: Kmccg.engage@nhs.net by Friday 26 March 2021.
In particular we want to know:
- Whether you are registered with a GP practice in Medway?
- If you are not registered, can you tell us why?
- Which Medway GP practice are you registered with?
- What matters most to you when using a GP practice?
- If you have any experience of using these Medway GP services over the past year, how satisfied are you with the services and why?
We will be writing to all patients registered at these practices again in the coming months to let you know about our proposals for these sites and to find out what you think. We will communicate with students again through the University.
In the meantime, I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours,
Clare Delap
Engagement Lead
NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group