Future of Putney Hospital
Putney Hospital to be the new Putney Primary Care Centre
Housing three GP practices: Balmuir
Gardens Surgery, Putneymead Medical Centre and the Putney Surgery
Participants at an option appraisal event held last week (14 January 2004) considered a number of short-listed options - refurbishment of the former Putney Hospital, a new purpose built centre on the former Putney Hospital site, a search into other suitable Putney locations and a "do nothing" option (which meant the three surgeries would remain in their current locations).
Wandsworth
Primary Care Trust (PCT) staff, patients of the three surgeries, Wandsworth
PCT Non-Executive Directors, councillors, Wimbledon and Putney Commons
Conservators, Putney Society members, GPs and pharmacists voted on the
three options and resoundingly agreed a new build facility on the former
Putney Hospital site as the preferred option. The new Primary Care Centre
will bring GP, primary care and social services all under one roof.
Veronica Cotterill, Deputy Chief Executive of Wandsworth PCT said: "The GPs from the three practices involved are very pleased that we are now one step closer to providing a first class Primary Care Centre for Putney residents. Our patients can only benefit from these developments. Continuity of care is of utmost priority to us and the way in which we set up the Centre will ensure that patients continue seeing the doctors they are familiar with, whilst also having access to a wider pool of GPs with a range of specialities.
"Patients will also be able to conveniently access services such as physiotherapy, dietetics, X-ray, ultrasound and hopefully even dentistry all under one roof. Another important feature is the dispensing and retail pharmacy. This will be run on a consortia basis by those pharmacists already working in Putney.
"New purpose built premises not only allows the three practices to expand and offer more service, such as pharmacy, x-ray, family planning and many others. It will also ensure easy access for people with disabilities, which can be an issue in current practice buildings."
A planning application is due to be submitted to Wandsworth Borough Council in May 2004. An Outline Business Case will then be submitted to Wandsworth PCT and the South West London Strategic Health Authority for approval. Subject to planning and business case approvals the Primary Care Centre could be open in 2006.
21st January 2004
Associated articles:
Comment from Tony Colman MP