WEDNESDAY,1 APRIL 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. PHOTO ATTACHED OF STAFF FROM THE TWO PRACTICES

Forfar GP surgeries reveal name for new practice

Academy Medical Centre and Ravenswood Surgery in Forfar are delighted to announce Chapelpark Healthcare Centre as the name for the new practice which will open later this year.

The new practice, which will replace the two existing practices, is named after the old primary school which is opposite the practice.

Commenting on how the name was chosen, Dr Andrew Thomson said, “We asked the public to make suggestions for a new name for the practice which we wanted to reflect our intention to focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of our practice population.

“We were inundated with suggestions and gave our Public Participant Group the unenviable task of short listing two from all the great ideas we received. They shortlisted Chapelpark and The Steeple.

“Patients then voted in large numbers for their preferred name and, once the votes were counted, Chapelpark came out as the clear winner.”

Describing the next steps in the process, Dr Nico Grunenberg said, “We are really excited to have a name for the new practice. Our focus will now shift to speaking to our registered patients about the new small practice teams we have created.

“The new practice will deliver healthcare to the local population through six small teams. Patients will interact with the same small team each time they contact the surgery and will receive improved continuity of and access to care when they need it.

“Each of the six teams will consist of GPs, practice nurses, healthcare assistants and administrative staff along with named community nurses, health visiting staff and a locality pharmacy. We want to ensure good access to services and continuity of care based around our patients’ healthcare needs.”

Patients are asked to record their preferred team on an online survey which can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/forfarmerger

Patients who do not have computer access should contact the practices for further information.

Whilst the practices will do everything they can to meet people’s preferred choice, they are asking for a second choice to ensure consistency with the size of each team.

Dr Grunenberg concluded, “We will also speak with people as they access our services over the coming weeks to gather their preferences with volunteers within the practices to support this.

“We will continue to provide regular updates about the practice merger through communications within the practices and through close working with the Patient Participation Group.

“A further letter will be issued to all registered patients once the date of the merger is confirmed which will provide confirmation of your new practice team and how to contact them.

“In the meantime, should anyone have any suggestions or concerns, please contact the practice manager of either practice or by email at forfarmerger.tayside@nhs.net.”

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 740716