Important patient update 23.02.23

Posted on February 23rd, 2023

Dear patients,

During the past year, I have been exploring a number of opportunities and different ways to support the practice to ensure that we can continue to provide you with high quality and sustainable primary care, now and into the future. I have been in discussion with an organisation called Operose Health for a number of months and feel that their vision fits with mine – to deliver great care to you. So, in the coming weeks the Hickings Lane Medical Centre will enter into a partnership with Operose Health.

This is not a decision that I have made lightly. Before deciding to partner with Operose Health I looked at a number of options that could help us to support the practice and our patients. I wanted to make sure that we considered every option available to us and we looked at the risks and benefits of all options before making our final decision. I wanted to partner with an organisation that had the same aims for our patients as we do and would best support our practice team. Based on an evaluation of all of these risks and benefits, I have chosen to partner with Operose Health.

Please be assured that there are no plans to change anything around patient services. This is not a change in the day-to-day management of the practice and you will continue to see the same doctors, including myself, nurses and members of the admin team that you currently do.

The team and I are all still very committed to the practice and will continue to deliver your care. I will remain with the surgery providing clinical sessions every week. Partnering with Operose Health will allow myself and the team to spend more time looking after you, our patients, as Operose Health will help to support us with the office and administrative functions associated with running a GP practice.

You do not need to re-register with the surgery or register at another GP practice. The telephone number and website address will both remain the same. 

Operose Health have lots of experience in running GP practices and have a network of GP surgeries and urgent treatment centres across the country, including six across the Nottinghamshire area. 97% of Operose Health practices are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They have central support teams in place (for example finance, HR and IT) who will help us in the practice, freeing up time for the frontline teams to focus on delivering high quality patient care.  

Once again, I would like to reassure you that we feel this partnership is a really positive step in the history of our practice. We and Operose Health are committed to you, our patients, and ensuring that our community continues to have access to high quality, sustainable, modern primary care for many, many years to come.

For any general enquiries or help with anything, please contact the Practice via the ‘contact us’ form on our website https://hickingslanemc.nhs.uk/contact/. We have also produced some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the partnership, that you can read below. 

Yours sincerely,

Dr J Doddy

Hickings Lane Medical Centre

FAQs

Q1: Why is my GP surgery partnering with another organisation?  

A1: I want to ensure that the practice can continue to provide high quality and sustainable primary care services for our patients. We believe that partnering with Operose Health will help us to do this. The partnership is a collaboration between two organisations with the same vision – to deliver great care to you, our patients. 

Q2: What does this mean for me as a patient at this surgery?  

A2: Nothing will change as a patient at this surgery. You will still continue to receive the high level of care you always have had and will still continue to be seen by the same doctors, including myself, nurses and reception teams within the surgery. Any future changes that will affect patients will be discussed with patients during Patient Participation Group meetings.  

Q3: Will I still see the same doctor? 

A3: Yes, you will still be able to see the same practice staff that you currently do.  

Q4: Will there be any difference in services when I transfer to the new practice? 

A4: Please be assured that the Practice will continue to provide you with high quality primary care and you will be able to access all of the services that you currently access at the surgery. You will still be able to see the same practice staff that you currently do. There will be no immediate changes to the day to day running of the surgery.  

Q5: How did you decide to partner with Operose Health?

A5: This is not a decision that has been made lightly. Before deciding to partner with Operose Health I looked at a number of options that could help us to support the practice. I wanted to make sure that we considered every option possible, looking at the risks and benefits of each of those options to ensure we made the right decision for our patients and team. Based on an evaluation of all of these risks and benefits, we have chosen to partner with Operose Health.

Q6: Will the name or contact details of my surgery change?  

A6: No, the name of the surgery and contact details will all be staying the same.  

Q7: What should I do if I have a routine appointment booked with a GP, Nurse or other healthcare professional?  

A7: All appointments booked with the practice will take place as planned. You will continue to be able to book appointments as you currently do. 

Q8: What if I have just been referred to the hospital? 

A8: The partnership will not impact on your hospital referral, appointment or results. Any new test results and hospital results will still be directed to the practice.  

Q9: Will I still be able to book appointments and order prescriptions online?  

A9: Yes, you will still be able to book appointments online and order prescriptions online as you currently do.  

Q10: What will happen to my medical records? 

A10: Your medical records will remain securely at Hickings Lane Medical Centre and you will continue to be able to view them online. 

Q11: Who are Operose Health?  

A11: Operose Health have lots of experience in running multi-site general practice through their network of GP surgeries and urgent treatment centres, including six within the Nottinghamshire area. 97% of Operose Health practices are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Operose Health have central support teams in place (for example finance, HR and IT) which reduces the administrative burden on general practice. This frees up time for the frontline teams to focus on delivering high quality patient care.  

Q12: Does the NHS know about this change?  

A12: Yes, we have involved Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). In line with contractual requirements, we have notified other NHS organisations. 

Q13: I have a question or concern that isn’t covered by the information above, what should I do? 

A13: For any general enquiries or help with anything, please contact the Practice via the ‘contact us’ form on our website https://hickingslanemc.nhs.uk/contact/.