THE ARTICLE on the Hedon Group Practice patient survey on parking has prompted some discussion over at Surgery Survey on Parking at Market Hill.
We are delighted that Roy Peckitt, Practice Manager has joined this debate to clarify matters on behalf of Hedon Group Practice. We reproduce Mr Peckitt’s letter in full including a link to patients’ comments on this issue from the patient survey.
We hope that this will help inform the debate – one that we will keep open at the original article where we have reproduced this page.
“I aim to answer some queries raised, dispel some myths and correct the odd inaccuracy. I am pleased that our Patient Survey has generated a debate on car parking in the town, as this is a situation of obvious concern to our patients, the residents and businesses of Hedon and the surrounding villages. It is a debate which I believe should be continued involving the Town Council and East Riding Highways department as to how best plan for current/future parking demands.
- It is correct that Hedon Group Practice, Church View Surgery and Humber Mental Health (owners of Rosedale Community Centre) are 3 separate business entities.
- It is correct that Hedon Group have extended their premises 4 times in 15 years. However had we not done so, we would not be providing Hedon residents with the services that we currently do. The hundreds of patients who have Warfarin dosing monitored, minor surgery, joint injections, and other many other services we currently provide would have to travel into Hull, with all the issues that raises. We would have only had a surgery suitable for basic consultations.
- Indeed the premises situation will compound as the Government intends to increase the shift of healthcare from Secondary Care (hospitals) to Primary Care (GP surgeries) i.e. the local community.
- Prior to the last extension we fully investigated moving sites. We engaged the services of a London firm who had experience of developing purpose-built new GP premises and established 2 possible local sites for further consideration. The cost of such a move was circa £2.6million. The Practice was in no position to take on such borrowing independently. We approached the East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust but were informed that there would be no funding support available. East Riding of Yorkshire PCT does not have the same funding streams available that has seen Hull PCT develop large purpose-built GP centres across the city. The 11th and latest (Hessle Road centre opening this March) has cost £11m with no direct costs to the 3 GP surgeries that will use the site. We were therefore left with no alternative other than extending into our loft which was dead space. I must correct Councillor Bryan in his comment that this doubled our floor space. It was more in the region of a 40% increase, which we expect will enable us to take on some the of shift proposed from Secondary Care and will therefore benefit patients.
- The reason we did not move premises is as stated above. It had nothing to do with our dispensing contract which the regulations would have allowed to remain in place (if we had moved).
- Yes we do employ a large number of staff (nearer 30 than the 40/42 mentioned) BUT all of these with 1 exception are Part Time i.e. they are never all working at the same time. We have it in our Person Specification that it is desirable for new staff to live locally. We want to employ local people where possible and are also aware of the parking issues. Several staff walk to work, 3 or 4 cycle (in appropriate weather), a couple car share and finally 1 or 2 are dropped off.
- A few years ago our colleagues at Church View Surgery applied for planning permission for extended car parking utilising a field at the back of their premises. They approached us and enquired if we would pay a nominal fee for using such a car park (if planning approved) and we advised that yes we would. The Town Council/Planning Department refused this application.
- One of the action points from our Patient Survey (which will be published shortly) will be to request staff to park away from the immediate vicinity of the green. Ultimately though we cannot enforce this as it would be unlawful, with anyone who has paid their road tax having the same rights. My personal suggestion would be to restrict parking on the green, during daytime, but this is in the hands of the 2 councils.
- We do not believe that extending surgery hours would alleviate the issues. We already open late on Monday evenings (until 8pm) and Saturday mornings (7.45am to noon) for routine bookable appointments. These appointments are the least popular with patients generally only booking them when there is nothing else available. Our past surveys have shown although patients request extended opening hours the demand for such appointments is extremely low.
I attach (for interest/reflection) the parking comments/suggestions made by patients within our survey. Many Hedon/Holderness residents are obviously unaware of the protected status of the green.
I hope that this survey has generated sufficient interest for further discussion/consideration by the 2 councils.”
Roy Peckitt
Practice Manager
Hedon Group Practice
