10th October 2024
NHS Norfolk and Waveney has launched a public consultation to gain people’s views on a proposal about the future of Toftwood Medical Centre.
The consultation will run from today, Thursday 10 October, to Thursday 21 November 2024, with patients, staff and people in the local communities being asked to take part.
The consultation is taking place as the current contract with Toftwood Medical Centre for providing general practice services is expiring on 31 March 2025. With the contract end approaching, NHS Norfolk and Waveney has reviewed the service.
The review has highlighted that Toftwood Medical Centre provides good services; however, it also faces a number of challenges. The building is too small for the population it serves and it is in need of investment to ensure that it can continue to provide good quality services into the future.
Having looked at a range of options, from extending the building to relocating the practice, the review proposes that the best way forward would be to automatically transfer patients to neighbouring Orchard Surgery and Theatre Royal Surgery on 1 April 2025, and to close Toftwood Medical Centre.
The review notes that Orchard Surgery and Theatre Royal Surgery are expanding their buildings and will be recruiting new staff, so they will have additional space and capacity to care for more people.
Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said:
“We are carefully considering the future of general practice services at Toftwood Medical Centre as the current contract approaches its end in March 2025. We know that the practice provides good care to its patients, however it is important we look to the future and how we can best provide general practice services to the community.
“We know that changing how and where services are provided can have a real impact on people, so we take these decisions seriously. This is why it is vital we hear from the local community about the proposal and what impact it would have before we make any decisions.”
A survey is available to complete online, or paper copies of the consultation document and survey are available at Toftwood Medical Centre, Orchard Surgery and Theatre Royal Surgery.
People are also invited to attend a drop-in session at Toftwood Medical Centre on 22 October, 1pm-4pm, or 5 November, 10am-1pm.
Once the consultation has closed, all feedback provided will be reviewed and compiled into a report that will be published on our website.