Patients invited to drop-in sessions to share their views on the future of healthcare in Buckingham

Health and Social Care

Sent on behalf of The Swan Practice

As part of a public consultation on the future of GP and healthcare services in the Buckingham area, The Swan Practice is inviting patients to attend a drop-in session where they can ask questions and hear about future plans.

Hundreds of people have already shared their views, but there is still time for more to make their voices heard before the consultation ends on 16 November.

People can attend the drop-in sessions at Buckingham Community Centre, on 27 October and 2 November (12-2pm, both dates), to find out more about possible future developments and give their feedback.

For several years the practice has been working on proposals to move its two Buckingham based surgeries – North End and Verney Close – into a new, purpose-built site at Lace Hill, near the large Tesco superstore. The surgery at Steeple Claydon would not be affected by this plan.

The proposed new site would deliver a fuller range of healthcare services in a safer, modern environment with better parking facilities. It would offer enhanced healthcare and a better experience for patients, bringing a number of services they currently have to travel to hospital to access closer to home. The practice is also in discussions with other healthcare providers and community organisations who may be interested in having a presence at the proposed site. The aim is to create a new building which would serve the healthcare needs of the growing community in and around Buckingham for many years to come.

Some NHS funding is available to support the Lace Hill proposal, but it can only move forward if the practice is able to develop an affordable plan, matched with the necessary finance. However, it is essential for some sort of solution to be found to the problems faced by the practice’s current surgeries in Buckingham.

The premises at North End and Verney Close are no longer suitable for the requirements of modern general practice. They cannot meet the needs of the growing population in the Buckingham area and are already over capacity with patient numbers. They have poor disabled access, very limited parking and are not satisfactory working environments for staff. They cannot be expanded or redeveloped to the necessary standards.

Dr George Gavriel, Executive Partner at The Swan Practice, said: “We want as many of our patients as possible to give their views on these plans. Our goal as a GP Practice is to deliver the best possible services to our patients in an environment that is safe, comfortable and fit for the purposes of a modern general practice. Unfortunately that is no longer possible in our current premises in Buckingham.

“So, if you haven’t had the chance to tell us what you think yet, please get in touch. You can do this by post, email, an online survey, or you can come to visit us in person at one of our upcoming drop-in sessions.”

More information on the consultation can be found at: https://www.theswanpractice.co.uk/info.aspx?p=10&pr=K82007

Drop-in sessions will be held at at Buckingham Community Centre, Cornwalls Meadow, Buckingham, MK18 1RP, on:

  • Wednesday 27 October, from 12-2pm
  • Tuesday 2 November, from 12-2pm

You can also give feedback in the following ways: