Super-centre bid for NHS provision

Apr 25 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

A £25m scheme will see some traditional doctors’ surgeries in Chester and Frodsham replaced with NHS ‘super-centres’ housing GPs, dentists, pharmacies and other services.

Progress is being made to develop Integrated Resource Centres which would be based near The Parade in Blacon and Northgate Village in Chester and at the Frodsham High School site – subject to public support.

Helen Bellairs, chief executive of Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust, acknowledges many GP surgeries are too small and has even described some as ‘quite grotty’.

She says the ideal scenario is to provide a whole range of services alongside a GP practice in a one-stop shop.

Northgate Medical Centre in Chester has been waiting to relocate for years. The reception is cramped and there is no space for additional facilities such as physiotherapy.

It is not possible to install a lift because the three-storey property is listed, causing problems for people with limited mobility. Parking is at a premium.

The favoured solution is to build a centre by Northgate Arena which would house Northgate Medical Centre together with Northgate Village Surgery and St Martin’s Clinic. Consideration is also being given to accommodating Hoole Road and The Elms medical centres as well.

The site would be adjacent to a county council extra care housing scheme for older people. Work could start on site in late 2009 with completion in late summer 2011.

An NHS walk-in centre is one aspect of a proposed GP-led super-centre earmarked for The Parade area of Blacon which would be open 8am-8pm all year round to ease pressure on the nearby Countess of Chester Hospital’s A&E department.

In Frodsham the PCT wants to create a super-centre offering services currently delivered by The Rock and The Knoll GP practices alongside other facilities traditionally provided in hospital. Work could start on site next summer with the building complete in late 2010.

Discussions are also taking place about developing premises in Helsby.

Mrs Bellairs accepts there has been criticism from some quarters about over centralisation of services and the loss of traditional-style facilities but said this was inevitable because “people expect more from today’s NHS”.

She said: “What we are trying to achieve is that wherever possible we provide care close to where people live. We hope the Integrated Resource Centres will provide a whole range of services for local people in cooperation with GP surgeries in the area.

“We are also hoping to improve other GP premises to enable them to offer more services.”