People are being invited to get in touch or attend drop-in events to find out about planned changes and give their views. Registered patients do not need to take any action and the change will not affect your registration with a GP.
The new merged practice will be known as the Manor Practice, and the Wallington Medical Centre premises will be closed. Services will be relocated to both the Manor Practice and the Manor Practice’s Roundshaw Health Centre branch premises which are located a short distance away.
This changes follow a business case submitted by the GP partners to NHS South West London.
Vulnerable and housebound patients
Practice staff will ensure that all vulnerable and housebound patients are supported during this change. However, if you do have any concerns or require support, please contact your practice.
Over the coming weeks NHS South West London will work closely with both practices to ensure services are safely relocated to the Manor Practice and services continue in the usual way, with minimum disruption.
Contacting patients
The practice is writing to all patients and will also keep people updated via its websites, information within waiting rooms and practice staff will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Drop-in sessions
In addition to this, drop-in sessions* have been arranged for patients to meet with staff and discuss any queries or concerns regarding the merger:
*Sessions are open to all Wallington Medical Centre and Manor Practice patients, no booking required.
Frequently asked questions
Why is this merger taking place?
In October 2022 the partners at Wallington Medical Centre took over responsibility for managing and delivering care at Manor Practice and the branch site at Roundshaw Health Centre, with the longer-term plan to merge contracts. Formally merging contracts provides more resilience for the practices.
By formally bringing together the practices under a single contract there will be benefits for both patients and practice teams. There will be particular benefits for patients currently registered with Wallington Medical Centre, with access to improved premises, additional services, and an enhanced team of clinical and non-clinical staff, while still having access to the same GPs and continuity of care.
The Manor Branch premises are located at the Roundshaw Health Centre which is a 10 minute walk or two minute drive from the Wallington Medical Centre. The Roundshaw Health Centre offers improved facilities compared to the Wallington Medical Centre, which is a small practice with limited capacity for growth or resilience.
Clinical and non-clinical staff have been working across both practices for some time and staff will transfer over to the new contract. The two premises remaining open have sufficient capacity and staffing to care for patients.
How are we supporting people, especially the most vulnerable?
All registered patients will soon receive a letter letting them know about the changes, in particular making sure patients who normally attend appointments at Wallington Medical Centre are informed that going forward these will take place at Roundshaw Health Centre instead. Patients do not need to take any action and the change will not affect their registration.
The practices will be proactively contacting all vulnerable and housebound patients to ensure they are aware of the changes and offer support.
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is available, alongside information on the practice and NHS South West London websites, text message alerts and posters in the reception area.
The practices have arranged the following drop-in sessions for patients to speak to staff regarding any queries or concerns they may have:
Patients will also be able to provide feedback and ask questions directly to the practice or to NHS South West London Primary Care Team.
Should anyone wish to register at an alternative practice instead, support and advice will be offered about how to do this. There are seven practices within a one-mile radius of Wallington Medical Centre, so some patients may wish to choose the closest practice to their home.
Why does the merger involve the closure of the Wallington Medical Centre site?
Wallington Medical Centre is a small practice with limited capacity which has made it difficult to offer more services and additional facilities. With the Wallington Medical Centre located in close proximity of the Roundshaw Health Centre, the partners have recommended closing the Wallington Medical Centre site and relocating services to Manor Practice and the Roundshaw Health Centre as they have better premises and facilities.
What will the merger and the closure the Wallington Medical Centre involve, and how would this affect me?
Registered patients do not need to take any action and the change will not affect your registration. For those patients registered with Wallington Medical Centre the patient records will transfer over to the Manor Practice once the contracts have merged. The practices will work with the Primary Care Team at NHS South West London ICB to identify and support vulnerable and housebound patients with this change – please contact your practice if you need this support.
Can I register at another practice in the area?
You can register with any practice which is accepting patients as long as you live within its catchment area. As a guide, the closest GP practices to Wallington Medical Centre are listed in Appendix A and are all accepting new patients. You can find details of the surgeries closest to you on the NHS website. However, if you require assistance in registering elsewhere, please contact the staff at Wallington Medical Centre who will be able to assist you.
Will my GP remain the same?
There will be no change to the clinical and administration staff. Clinicians have been working across both GP surgery’s sites since they took over the Manor Practice contract in October 2022.
Will opening hours and services remain the same wherever I register?
All Sutton GP practices are open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, with some open for longer. Extended access arrangements also mean all patients registered with a Sutton practice have access to GP appointments seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
Where will outstanding test results be sent when Wallington Medical Centre closes?
All results will go to Manor Practice, or to your new GP practice if you decide to register elsewhere.
Will I automatically be transferred to another local practice?
All patients registered at Wallington Medical Centre will have their registration transferred to Manor Practice – you do not need to take any action. Should you wish to register elsewhere, you will need to contact another practice, but support will be available if you need it.
What should I do about my repeat medications?
Your repeat medications will be unaffected. Should you wish to register elsewhere, your new GP may need to review your prescriptions before issuing them, which could cause a delay. We advise ordering repeat prescriptions, so you have at least two weeks’ supply, before registering with a new practice.
What support is available for patients with mobility issues?
If you require assistance the staff at both Manor Practice and Wallington Medical Centre will assist you.
If I decide to register elsewhere, can you assure me that another surgery I choose will provide a good service?
You can visit the nhs.uk to review the performance of local GP practices before registering. All of the practices listed in Appendix A are rated as “Good” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
I’m registered with Wallington Medical Centre – what will happen to my medical records when the practice closes?
Your records will transfer to Manor Practice, or to your new practice if you decide to register elsewhere. Electronic records usually take around two to three days to transfer and paper records will take longer.
Do the other local GP practices have enough space?
Yes, the nearest GP practices are all accepting new registrations.
How will I make appointments at my new practice?
All practices take bookings by phone and in person with many also offering online bookings.
Will my new practice provide home visits if required?
Practices provide home visits to patients who are housebound or very unwell if a clinician assesses that a home visit is required.
If I don’t wish to be registered with Manor Practice, do I have to wait until Wallington Medical Centre closes before moving to another surgery?
No, you are free to register at another practice at any time.
How do I register at another practice?
Each practice operates their own registration process. Contact your chosen practice or visit its website.
Who can I contact with any further queries or concerns?
Contact the practice managers at Manor Practice on 020 8647 1818 or Wallington Medical Centre on 020 8647 0811, or alternatively the NHS South West London Primary Care Team on 020 3880 0265 or email [email protected].