GP Practices in Devon one step closer to funding for refurbishments

NHS Devon has submitted ten GP practices for the Government Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation (U&M) Fund.

The U&M Fund is a government initiative providing £102 million in capital funding to improve primary care facilities across the country.  The money is to support improvements in primary care facilities, including renovations, extensions and new builds.

The Government has announced that all ten of the schemes submitted by NHS Devon will now be considered by the Government.  At this stage none of the schemes have been approved for U&M funding.

If approved, the modernisation schemes at these practices would provide 29 new clinical rooms in Devon.

Paul Green, Director of Primary Care at NHS Devon, said: “This has been a great example of collaborative working across the primary care health system in Devon. It is a positive step forward in the process to secure investment in GP practice infrastructure in the county.  We have been as proactive as we can to give the Devon schemes the best chance possible of being approved.  Where needed, planning applications have been submitted and approved by local councils. 

“GP practices in Devon have a good track record patient satisfaction and access has always been rated highly in national surveys. If approved, these improvements will make a massive difference to the experience of patients and staff at those surgeries.”

Notes:

• The total cost of the improvements for all ten schemes would be £2.9m, with £2.1m requested from the U&M fund.
• The ten surgeries are:
• Ashburton Surgery
• Beaumont
• Brannam Medical Centre
• Buckland Surgery
• Clare House Surgery
• Ivybridge Highlands
• Pinhoe Surgery
• Queens Medical Centre
• St Levan Surgery
• Topsham Surgery