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Crich Medical Practice

24 August 2009
Dear All
Re: New premises for Crich Medical Practice

You will be aware that construction of the new Crich surgery premises on the Glebe Field site was due to have commenced in Spring of 2009 with a target completion date for December. You will also be aware that the project has been put on hold because of last minute financial consideration in relation to the scale of the original plans. The purpose of this letter is to inform the new PCT management of some of the history that preceded the PCT reconfiguration and to request that the PCT make every effort to get the project back on track.

The commitment to the new build for Crich main surgery premises was agreed by Amber Valley PCT six years ago in recognition of the savings that would be made for the PCT when the two practices agreed to amalgamate with consequential closure of the Dimple Head surgery premises. The present Crich premises were only designed for a 2,000 patient list size and since amalgamation the premises have had to cope with the demands for a Crich area list size of about 5,000 patients. The present Crich premises are woefully inadequate and not fit for purpose and yet we have had to cope for the past six years despite frequent complaints from patients about the premises. The total list size is in the region of 7,300 patients. The 2,300 patients are served by the smaller but well equipped branch surgeries without which the practice simply could not have coped and are much valued by the respective populations of the villages of Holloway and South Wingfield. We are fully committed to keeping these branch surgeries running indefinitely.

It was the PCT that influenced the practice to go down the LIFTCO route for securing new premises rather than the PFI route about five years ago. Over the past two years the practice has had numerous meetings with PCT staff (albeit it ever changing staff), and members of LIFTCO. We were encouraged to plan premises fit for the future to take in to consideration the expanding role of primary care and the projected population growth in the Crich area. Jill Badger acting for the PCT attended several meetings and was aware of the scale of the plans drawn up by LIFTCO and at no time prior to the meeting with Darren Green on 12 March 2009 was any concern expressed about the scale of the premises.

We now know that the PCT is resolute that the plans be scaled down and in a spirit of compromise we have made suggestions in conjunction with LIFTCO/Primary Horizons that would reduce the premises area from >1100 m2 to around 900m2 (850m2 supported by the PCT and 50m2 supported by Primary Horizons). LIFTCO feel that any further reduction in premises size would be disproportionate to the extra costs inherent with the site and would make the project non viable for them. We are not aware of any suitable alternative site and already considerable expense and time has been given to securing the present excellent site. We also understand that the District Valuer has recommended a rent of £170/sqm but this does not take account of the exceptional site costs. LIFTCO need a rent of £185/sqm to make the project viable for them.

We understand that LIFTCO/Primary Horizons will work with the PCT to see if any of the space could be used by a third party to bring in another rent income stream. In addition the practice is bidding for £150,000 of up front capital funding from the Deanery on the basis of becoming a training practice with 2 registrars. We sincerely hope that the PCT in its new configuration will recognise the history of events and work flexibly with LIFTCO/Primary Horizons and the practice to ensure a working compromise can be achieved so that the new premises on the Glebe Field site can go forward with a target to start building early 2010.

Yours sincerely

Dr Malcolm Ward
On behalf of Crich Medical Practice