PLANS are being proposed for Launceston Medical Centre to undergo expansion and change over the next five years — becoming a ‘health hub’ rather than a GP Surgery.
Dr Amit Dhulkotia outlined this vision to the members of the Launceston Medical Centre Patient Group, with an update on issues and challenges that will face the centre over the next five years.
He said: “At the moment the health centre is primarily reactive, but the traditional GP practice will not be a viable model for a future in which the Government wants to see bigger and more co-ordinated community health services.
“The expansion plans for the medical centre would enable the practice to provide and support more comprehensive health services in future.”
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He explained to the group that he envisages a health centre that evolves into a well-being centre or a health hub. He hopes it can become a base for a super surgery with input from social services, district nurses and charitable organisations, such as Age UK.
The proposal for the new model will need to reflect the needs of the growing population and their changes in needs.
The fastest growing population in Launceston is the over-65s and the under-30s. The current practise focuses on meeting the needs of the elder generation and will need to begin meeting the needs of a more diverse population as age groups in Launceston alter.
This change is said to already be underway.
The progress of the expansion plans were detailed to the patient group by medical centre business manager Peter Harper, he said: “It [the plan] has been submitted to NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group for its ‘Estates Plan’ and that is likely to be completed in February 2016. It is understood that the Launceston expansion plan is still acknowledged to be a priority.
“In the meantime, the medical centre has been granted some money so that it can instruct architects to draw up detailed plans for the extension and can go ahead and apply for planning permission. That will mean the work on the extension would be able to go ahead once the long-term funding is agreed.”
Chairman of the patient group Maureen Amy responded: “Even though we still have to wait for a decision on the expansion plan, we are taking the grant of funds to help us proceed through the planning stage as a very encouraging sign.”