10th August 2023
Burnham Town Council has received a statement from the Mid Essex Alliance, part of our local health authority, denying that a decision has been made about the future of the town’s surgery.
It follows concerns that there are plans for the NHS to move the surgery to Burnham Waters, the new development on the western outskirts of the town.
The statement adds that any plans for the future of the surgery will ‘need to be developed in conjunction with local people…’
This is the statement in full:
We would like to assure you that, despite recent rumours, no decision has been made about relocating the Burnham Surgery.
The team at the surgery is working with local partners to explore a number of options that will help future-proof GP-led services.
This has included an initial assessment of estate. [i.e., the available buildings].
However, formal recommendations around proposed changes to the location of GP services would need to be developed in conjunction with local people and key stakeholders and agreed by a local Primary Care Committee before any decisions are made.
Local NHS values the input and expertise of everyone involved in delivering and receiving health and care services. We are committed to transparent planning and decision-making processes that take experiences of the people we serve into account.
The duty and shared commitment of all NHS organisations involved is to ensure the people of Burnham-on-Crouch and the surrounding area receive high-quality healthcare both now and in the future.
The statement was secured by Sharon Westfield de Cortez, the Information & Guidance Manager and Safeguarding Lead at Healthwatch Essex. Healthwatch are charged with overseeing local healthcare and its management.
Sharon Westfield de Cortez is moderating the upcoming public debate about the surgery’s future, hosted by Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council and the Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale, OBE, MP, at 7pm at the Ormiston Rivers Academy in Burnham on Friday 18 August, 2023. The local health authority has been invited to be on the debate’s panel.
For more information on the debate, click here.