A WEST Somerset doctor’s surgery where patients have been trying to transfer to other nearby medical centres is to be run by a contracted service for an extra year.
Leeds-based One Medical Group was brought in by NHS Somerset to deliver general medical services in Minehead last January.
It followed the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) suspension of the previous provider’s registration for Minehead Medical Centre, in Irnham Road.
The suspension saw the sudden closure of the centre, with One Medical stepping in to reopen it the following day.
The company initially was hired for three months, which was extended for a full year to take it through to January, 2025.
The previous provider, Minehead Medical Ltd, was established in 2022 and run by Dr Ed Ford and practice manager Janet Hewlett.
But the CQC said it had seen a deterioration in the quality of services to the point where it rated the practice ‘inadequate’ in a number of categories.
Among a catalogue of issues, the CQC said the previous provider did not have effective systems for the appropriate and safe use of medicines.
Now, NHS Somerset has confirmed One Medical Group will continue to deliver the ‘caretaking contract’ overseeing the Minehead practice until January, 2026.
A spokesperson said: “This will enable continuation of high-quality healthcare for patients.
“The continuation will provide stability, support the delivery of safe and effective care, and allow the team to build on all the required recent improvements.
“Patients can be assured that there will be no disruption to services, and the dedicated healthcare team at Minehead Medical Centre will continue to meet the needs of the local community.”
Key service improvements which One Medical said had already been put in place include:
- More than 900 appointments offered weekly, delivered by a multi-disciplinary team, including GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, and practice nurses
- A dedicated care co-ordinator ensuring patients are seen by the most appropriate professional, enabling effective and tailored care
- A newly installed cloud-based telephony system, providing features such as call-back options, clear queue positions, and wait times, and helpful messaging while waiting
- A new home visiting protocol, ensuring patients requiring home visits due to mobility issues, frailty, or palliative care are seen on the same day, eliminating previous wait times
The spokesperson said: “NHS Somerset is committed to working with patients, stakeholders, and the wider community to ensure the long-term sustainability of services at Minehead Medical Centre.
“As part of this process, plans for a future procurement will include the learning from the engagement work commenced with the local community and ensure it reflects their needs and priorities.”
The Free Press reported earlier this month how ‘patient flight’ caused by alleged continuing dissatisfaction with Minehead Medical Centre was contributing to a surge in applications to register instead with doctors in Dunster and Porlock.
The increase in new applications resulted in NHS Somerset imposing a three-month emergency suspension of the patient lists for the two village surgeries ‘to protect services’ and stop them being overwhelmed.