Matthew Ryder Clinic
20 Dingle Road
Upholland
Skelmersdale
WN8 0EN
30th July 2018
CONSULTATION WITH PATIENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED FORMAL MERGER OF
MATTHEW RYDER CLINIC AND EXCEL PRIMARY CARE
(Formally known as SKELMERSDALE FAMILY PRACTICE)
Dear Patient,
As a patient of the Matthew Ryder Clinic, we are writing to you to let you know that we are commencing a formal consultation regardingthe merger between Matthew Ryder clinic and Excel Primary care (formally known Skelmersdale Family Practice).
Dr Ryder has retired from the Matthew Ryder Clinic and over the last several months as
Dr Ryder has reduced his sessions; partners and other clinicians from Excel primary care have been providing the care at the practice. We are now proposing to merge with Excel Primary Care to be able to improve the continuity of care and services we provide to you.
All our patients will continue to access our services in exactly the same way as they do now, you will continue to ring the same telephone number, see and speak to the same receptionists and nursing staff and attend the same building that you have always attended. The two practices will remain at their current location. The Practice will be known as Excel Primary Care once we have merged.
Our aim is to:
- Improve continuity of care with seeing regular GPs and minimising the use of locums.
- Improve the overall range and quality of services
- Improve access to more clinical staff
- Ensure GP availabilitywhen clinicians are on leave
- Provide a much stronger, resilient and sustainable future to create a general
practice fit for the current challenges facing the NHS
Next steps – tell us your views
We would like to hear your views and askpatients currently registered atThe Matthew Ryder Clinic, to complete a short survey.
We have provided a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ sheet to address any queries you may have and will update this document on our website during this consultation process.
We are carrying out a consultation to obtain your views before a decision is made by West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England. This period of consultation will start on Wednesday 1st August 2018.
We are also holding a Public Consultation meeting, where you can find out more details about the changes. This will take place onMonday 6th August at 1pm where the partners from Excel Primary Care will be present. We will publish this information on our surgery website.
There are several ways you can have your say:
- Fill in the survey online at
- Pick up a paper copy of the survey at the surgery
[You can leave your completed survey at Reception]
- Visit the Public Consultation meeting detailedabove
The closing date for your feedback is Wednesday 15th August. We look forward to hearing your comments.
We appreciate that you may have some questions about this and we would like to reassure you that maintaining a high quality service for our patients is our top priority. Through the merger with Excel Primary Care we hope to secure a sustainable future for the practice.
Yours sincerely
Matthew Ryder Clinic
Frequently asked Questions
Q. Which practices are involved in the merger?
A. Excel Primary Care (Skelmersdale Family Practice) and Matthew Ryder Clinic
Q. Do the Practices want this to happen?
A. Both Practices feel this is an opportunity to ensure a stronger more sustainable future for the Practice.
Q. When is the merger taking place?
A. 26th September 2018
Q. What will be the name of the merged practices?
A. Excel Primary Care
Q. Who will be in the Practice team? (Highlighted names will hold regular sessions at the practice.)
Partners: Other Clinicians:
Dr. R Jaidka(Wed) Dr.TSandels(Thurs)
Dr. S Dontula(Mon, Tues & Fri) Dr. M Munashe
Dr. A Hicks Claire Derbyshire (ANP)
Dr. D Bisarya Caroline foster (PN)
Dr. S Panikker Andrew Wilson (ANP)
Kelly Smith (HCA)
Natalie Evans (HCA)
Q. What improved services can I expect?
A. We will work hard to endeavor continuity of care by;
Improved continuity of care by seeing regular clinicians with very less reliance on locums.
In house expertise (i.e. Coil fittings, implants, Minor surgery, enhanced diabetic care)
Improving the telephone line system.
Practice Mobile App available to all patients to register, book and cancel appointments and order prescriptions
Q. What will the opening times be?
- 8:00am to 6:30pm Monday to Fridayand Tuesday extended hours until 8:00pm.
Q. How will the merger affect my care?
A.
You will have better continuity of care with less number of locums.
There will be a wider range of specialised services and clinics available for all patients ( in house minor surgery and injections, enhanced contraceptive services, implants and coils ,enhanced diabetic care )
You will not need to re-register at the practice if the practice merge
Meeting date: 06th August 2018 at 2pm
In attendance: Practice Staff - Dr R. Jaidka (DRJ), Dr S. Dontula (DSD), Ginena Lyon (GL)
Dr R Jaidka and Dr S Dontula welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending the meeting.
Dr Jaidka stated that we are merging with Skelmersdale Family Practice and will be known as Excel Primary Care from the 26th September.
Patients were interested to know which Doctors will be working at the Matthew Ryder Clinic. Dr Jaidka informed the patients that Dr Dontula will hold clinics three days a week, Monday, Tuesday and Friday to offer patients continuity of care. Dr Jaidka will hold clinics Wednesday Mornings and Dr Sandels will continue to hold clinics on Thursday.
Patients asked why Dr Sandels couldn’t work more or become a partner at the practice, Dr Jaidka informed patients that Dr Sandels is a locum and lives in Manchester and is only available to work on a Thursday. Dr Jaidka stated that whilst Dr Ryder has reduced his sessions over last several months the partners at Skelmersdale Family Practice have been helping to cover clinics.
Patients asked for further information regarding how many Doctors work at Skelmersdale Family Practice and who they were.
The partners of the practice are, Dr R Jaidka, Dr S Dontula, Dr A Hicks, Dr S Panikker and Dr D Bisarya. They also employ regular locums to work at the surgeries, Dr Munashe and Dr Kaur.
There are 2 Nurse Practitioners and 3 Practice Nurses currently working at Skelmersdale Family Practice.
Dr Jaidka informed patients we will be able to offer continuity of care and rely less on locums being part of a larger team.
Patients wanted to know if any of the Doctors were female, Dr Jaidka mentioned that we do not currently have a female GP holding regular sessions at the Matthew Ryder Clinic; we do however have Mrs Claire Derbyshire who is a Nurse Prescriber and is currently upskilling to become an advance Nurse Practitioner. If a patient did raise concerns and only wanted to see a female GP, we could offer appointments with a regular female locum GP at Skelmersdale Family Practice. Dr Jaidka also informed patients that he has a diploma in sexual and reproductive health and can fit contraception implants and can offer advice to Claire at Matthew Ryder Clinic. Dr Jaidka also mentioned that Dr S Dontula has completed a diploma in diabetes care.
Dr Jaidka reassured patients that only the clinical systems will be merging and this was decided to make it easier for all members of staff. At the moment as we are on two different systems, if one of the partners is working at Skelmersdale Family Practice and a question or task arises relating to a patient at Matthew Ryder Clinic, they have to log onto another system. Once we have merged systems all patients will be on one system and the Doctors will be able to offer support to clinicians at the Matthew Ryder Clinic. Merging systems will also help us work more effectively by sharing out the admin roles each GP has, for example; Dr Dontula’s role for the day could be to comment on results which he would do for all the surgeries whilst Dr Jaidka’s role could be to sign prescriptions, Etc. Staff would also be able to message Doctors at Skelmersdale Family Practice directly through the clinical system.
Patients raised concerns relating to appointments; Dr Jaidka reassured them that the appointments at the Matthew Ryder clinic will only be for patients registered at the Matthew Ryder clinic.
Patients were concerned that they had heard Skelmersdale Family Practice have long waiting times and did not want things to change at the Matthew Ryder Clinic. Dr Jaidka reassured patients that the same if not more appointments will be offered to patients as Claire will be working alongside the GPs as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner full time as compared to part time in the upcoming months. The Doctors also informed patients more appointments are offered at the Skelmersdale Family practice per 1000 list size than at Matthew Ryder clinic and although we are aware the waiting times for pre-bookable appointments at Skelmersdale Family Practice is around 2 weeks, this is not due to fewer appointments but because of the younger population and other demographics Skelmersdale Family practice have to offer more book on the day appointments as compared to most other surgeries in West Lancashire. Most of the patients who call on the day are seen or are able to speak to the triage clinician same day.
Patients gave some lovely feedback regarding the care they had already received from one of the partners, Dr Panikker at the Matthew Ryder Clinic.
At the end of the meeting patients asked if a Patient participation group meeting could be arranged for an evening once the practices have merged, the partners agreed and a meeting will be arranged for the beginning of November. Confirmation of the date will be sent to members of our PPG by email and notices will be put on the website and in reception.
We would like to thank all the patients for their input at the Patient consultation meeting and we hope any concerns or questions you had relating to the merger has now been resolved
Here are some of the questions that were also answered during the patient consultation.
FAQ’s
Q. Would it be possible to see Dr Jaidka at Skelmersdale Family Practice?
- Yes, if you stated to the reception team that you were happy to travel to the other surgery you could be seen by one of the partners there.
Q. Will the sign be changed to Excel Primary Care?
- No, the sign will not be changed. The site will still be called the Matthew Ryder Clinic
Q. When I see a consultant at hospital and they ask who my Doctor is, what will I write?
A. You will inform the consultant of the GP you regularly see at the surgery.
Q. Why can’t Dr Dontula work more days at the practice?
A. Dr Dontula works 4 days a week and works on call on a Wednesday for Skelmersdale Family Practice.
Q. Is there any of the other partners nearing retirement?
A. Dr Hicks plans to retire next year but will continue to work fewer sessions.
Q. Is there a principle GP?
A. No, all partners are equal
Q. Who will be my named GP?
A. We will allocate you alphabetically to a GP (I.e. Surnames A-G will be allocated to Dr Dontula).
You will be able to see any of the GP’s.
Q. Will the website be the same?
A. Once the Practice merges so will the website.
Q. Why change the name of the practice?
A. We decided we couldn’t rename the practice Skelmersdale Family Practice due to this being restricted to a location so we asked members of staff to get involved choosing a name for Skelmersdale Family Practice and Matthew Ryder Clinic. After this process it was agreed the practice’s would be renamed Excel Primary Care.
Q. Why does the receptionist ask what the problem is when booking an appointment now?
A. Receptionist ask why the appointment is needed for a number of reasons, by the receptionist knowing why they can advise you of which clinician you need to see, for example if you need an appointment for minor surgery, the receptionist could book you an appointment with the Doctor that specialises in this area. We could also save appointments with the GP, if the problem can be seen by the Practice Nurse, Health care assistant or in some circumstances can be dealt with by reception. It also informs the GP why you need the appointment so they can do there ‘homework’ before you attend for your appointment, this could mean they spend less time looking at the computer at your records and more time listening to your problem. Patients do not have to inform staff of the reason if they do not feel comfortable.