Whitchurch healthcare centres set to merge
The future provision of healthcare in Whitchurch has become clearer.
Whitchurch’s Bridgewater Family Medical Practice has agreed to accept patients previously registered with Claypit Street Medical Practice on a permanent basis.
Healthcare bosses said this had been made possible through a partnership with the surgery in Ellesmere which has provided support in recent months.
Subject to final approval next week by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Bridgewater Family Medical Practice and Ellesmere Medical Practice will formally merge on April 1 and will be called Churchmere Medical Group.
Last year Bridgewater Family Medical Practice announced it was taking over the management of Claypit Street Medical Practice at Whitchurch Community Hospital. It came after Shropdoc, a not-for-profit company providing medical care, made the decision to hand the contract back to Shropshire CCG.
Dr Julian Povey, Shropshire CCG’s clinical chairman, said: “We welcome the proposed merger between Bridgewater Family and Ellesmere Medical Practices, both long-standing practices offering high-quality patient-centred care, and are pleased GP services have been secured for the people of Whitchurch.”
“Our main focus has been to ensure the best possible provision of healthcare for the Whitchurch community, and this merger supports this aim fully.”
Dodington Surgery in Whitchurch is also working alongside Bridgewater Family and Ellesmere Medical Practices towards the vision of a single GP practice.
Staff are in talks with Shropshire Council and Wrekin Housing Trust to develop plans for a new health centre on the site of Paul’s Moss, which has been approved by the CCG as the preferred site for a healthcare centre to serve the whole of Whitchurch.
Practice staff will soon meet with an architect to outline the facilities needed for the town and it is hoped that the new facility will be ready in 2020.
