Urgent care centre at Chippenham Hospital
The Petition of residents of the Chippenham constituency,
Declares that an urgent care centre at Chippenham Hospital is needed to improve access to urgent health services and to relieve pressure on nearby Accident and Emergency departments.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to fund an Urgent care centre at Chippenham Hospital as proposed by Chippenham’s GPs.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Duncan Hames, Official Report, 25 March 2015; Vol. 594, c. 1544.]
[P001486]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health:
In October 2013, the Prime Minister announced a new £50 million challenge fund to help improve access to general practice and stimulate innovative ways of providing primary care services. The first wave of 20 pilots was announced in April 2014.
The Government asked NHS England to lead the process of inviting practices to submit innovative bids and overseeing the pilot schemes.
NHS England invited GP practices to submit their ‘expressions of interest’ (EOIs) to be one of the first wave of pilots in December 2013, before selecting the final list of successful schemes in April 2014. Twenty pilot schemes were selected that are benefiting over 7 million patients across more than 1,100 practices.
A wide variety of innovative ideas are being tested including extended opening hours, more ways for patients to access services and new services to better support patients with complex needs.
Further funding of £100 million for 2015-16 was announced by the Prime Minister on 30 September 2014 for a second wave.
NHS England launched the second wave of applications to become a pilot following the September 2014 announcement on 29 October 2014. Applications to become a wave two pilot closed on 16 January 2015 with 156 applications received.
NHS England confirms that no further bids were received in relation to urgent care centres in Chippenham. The configuration of local health care services is the responsibility of the local clinical commissioning group (CCG), and I am informed by NHS England that Wiltshire CCG is considering its plans for the development of Urgent care services at Chippenham Hospital.