Proposed Merger of Prince of Wales Surgery in Dorchester and Portesham Surgery
The GP partners of Portesham Surgery and Prince of Wales Surgery in Dorchester are pleased to announce plans to merge the practices under one contract. Joining forces offers many benefits to patients and practices alike. As a bigger organisation we will be able to offer the combined skills within our GP and nursing teams to the patients of both practices, and will be more attractive to recruiting new clinicians, making us more sustainable.
We anticipate the merger taking place in early to mid 2023. Once the application has been approved by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, there will be a process to follow to bring our individual practices together contractually and systematically. We will engage with you over the coming months to ensure you are fully informed and have an opportunity to ask further questions or share your views with us.
You will undoubtedly have questions about what this means for you, so we have prepared some initial Questions and Answers overleaf.
We look forward to working on your behalf to maintain and improve primary care services.
Yours faithfully
Dr John Robertson Dr Louise Beale
Partner Senior Partner
Prince of Wales Surgery Portesham Surgery
Questions and Answers about our Merger
Q1 When will the merge to the new Practice take place?
It is anticipated that the merger will take place within the next 12-15 months.
Q2 Will I still be able to make an appointment to see my usual doctor or nurse?
The merger won’t change your ability to see your usual doctor or nurse.
Q3 Will I still be able to make appointments at my usual doctor’s surgery?
You will continue to make appointments at your usual surgery as you do now.
Q4 Will my usual surgery opening times stay the same?
The merger will not change the opening hours of either surgery.
Q5 Will there be changes made to the way I book appointments?
The merger process will bring together the individual practice systems into a single system. If there are any changes you will be notified.
Q6 Will I have to go to another GP Practice site for consultations and/or treatments?
You might be offered an appointment at either practice if one practice is short of appointments or it’s more convenient for you, but we expect most patients will still be seen at their usual surgery.
Q7 Will any service that is currently offered by my usual surgery be removed or stopped?
No. We do not anticipate services being removed or stopped. If anything, we anticipate that this merger will bring about a greater choice of services.
Q8 Will there be any changes to how I access the GP out of hours service?
No. In order to access a GP when the practice is closed, you will continue to telephone the NHS 111 service as you do now.
Q9 Will the current arrangements that I have in place for getting my medicines stay the same?
Yes.
Q10 Will the intended merge affect any treatment or medication I am currently receiving either at my usual surgery or any hospital?
No. Any current treatments, medications or investigations will not be affected by the merge.
Q11 Will I need to re-register to become a patient of the newly merged GP Practice? What will happen to my health records?
No. All patients will automatically be transferred into the new single GP Practice system, along with their health records.
Staff Changes at the Practice
We have had a number of staff changes over the last few months:
We have said goodbye to Nurse Clair Maggs and Nurse Rebecca York
We have said a temporary goodbye to Dr Lara Wear who has gone on maternity leave for 12 months
We have welcomed Nurse Rebecca Wallace and Nurse Siobhan Maccanti along with HCA Lucy Beckerley who have all joined the nursing team
We have welcomed Jo Farnworth who has joined us a the Practice Business Manager and will be taking forward the merger plans with Portesham
We have also welcomed Dr Hazel Robinson who has joined us to cover Dr Lara Wear during her maternity absence
With all these changes we are working hard to ensure that you continue to receive the best care from the practice and that we maintain our high standards.
Covid Information and Updates
Please see below for links that will give you more information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme
www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guide-for-older-adults
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait
Welcome to our junior doctors.
Dr Srinkhala (GP Registrar) has joined the practice and will be with us until February 2023.
Dr Anuj Acharya who has joined us as a GP Registrar in August 2021, he will be will us until August 2022
Next Patient Participation Group Meeting
The next meeting on Monday 20th January 2020 has been cancelled due to the Corona Virus outbreak. The next meeting will be notified in due course. If in the meantime you have any comments or queries please email Peter Hazelton, Chairman at boxdragon54@gmail.com or Pat Ellender, Secretary at pat.ellender@gmail.com
Need a hand accessing your laptop or tablet?
Digital Champions are available at Dorchester Library to help you find your way around your computer and to help you access the services available here for patients. Please click on the link to be taken to Dorset Councils website for digital champions
Digital Champions
Our Dorset website
Our Dorset is the name given for the partnership of health and social care organisations who have joined together to deliver better services under the heading of Dorset Integrated Care Services or ICS.
The link below will give your more information about what is going on locally.
www.ourdorset.nhs.uk
General Data Protection Regulations
This came in to law on the 25th May 2018. Please see section 2 for further information on the right hand side of this page.
Named GP
All patients have been allocated a Named GP who will co-ordinate your care if necessary, in-line with NHS England requirements. This has not changed anything in the way that your treatment will be given.
- You can still see any GP of your choice
- You can still talk to any GP of your choice
- To check who your Named GP is, either ask your GP/Nurse next time you have an appointment, ask reception or look on your repeat prescription
Wessex Healthier Together - Better Health for your Children
The link below gives information and advice if you are concerned about your child's health between the age of 0 and 18 years. It gives useful advice about common symptoms and illness and who the speak to should you need further help.
Wessex Healthier Together
