Mini hospitals plan revived?

HEALTH chiefs in Warrington are about to embark on a wide-ranging public consultation on sweeping changes to primary care across the borough including new health centres and mergers of GP practices.
Warrington Primary Care Trust says the aim is to engage and listen to the public and further understand what people think of local health services and what they actually want and need.
Under the slogan “A Healthier Warrington – Join the Debate” the plan is for a major marketing campaign running alongside the health debate, a mail drop and survey to all households in the borough and a interactive, priority-setting health meeting in the summer.
The proposals include the previously suggested redevelopment of Garven Place health centre in the town centre, a new health centre at Orford Park, the possible merging of three GP practices at Culcheth and the establishment of a new 8am-8pm “walk-in” health centre on a site yet to be decided.
Some observers are already describing the proposals as an attempt to reintroduce the controversial “mini-hospitals” plan which was rejected by the public and by most GPs last year.
The PCT says two GP practices have expressed an interest in moving to the redeveloped Garven Place site and three others in moving to the new Orford Park site.
A specification for the new “walk-in” centre is being drawn up by the Warrington Commissioning Consortium, which consists of GPs and the PCT.
The proposals for merging three GP practices at Culcheth – apparently based on the fact that the three are all close to one another anyway – will be subject to a 12-week consultation involving letters to patients, public meetings and notices in public places.
There are also proposals for changes at GP practices in Appleton and Chapelford although the PCT say there will be change in location or level of services.
A plan to add fluoride to local water supplies is also being studied and, if it proves feasible and cost effective, will also be the subject of a consultation.