PRESS RELEASE:

New Queen Street & Stanground Surgeries, Cambridgeshire merge with Lakeside Healthcare Group creating 180,000 patients NHS ‘Super-Practice’  

Today New Queen Street and Stanground Surgeries in Whittlesey and Stanground, Cambridgeshire have announced that they are to merge with Lakeside Healthcare Group to further expand one of the biggest GP partnerships in the NHS.

New Queen Street & Stanground Surgeries are to merge with Lakeside Healthcare Group, which operates surgeries in Corby, Kettering, Brigstock, Rushden and Oundle in Northamptonshire, Yaxley, Eaton Socon and Cedar House in Cambridgeshire and Stamford and Bourne in South Lincolnshire.

The ‘super-practice’ will serve the healthcare needs of more than 180,000 patients across four counties: Northamptonshire, Rutland, Lincolnshire & Cambridgeshire.

Lakeside Healthcare is building a new model of primary care that is better able to thrive in the difficult times ahead and bucks the trend affecting many GP practices that are facing uncertain futures and possible closures.  Across Cambridgeshire many practices are struggling and a number have closed or are closing.  Closure is not a reflection of those practices or their staff, but more a result of the harsh economic climate for primary care services, coupled with ever-rising demand for GP access.

The type of model Lakeside Healthcare Group is delivering is a model that the government is actively supporting.

Dr Dan Dhanushan, Partner of New Queen Street & Stanground Surgeries said:

“As a successful practice we wanted to ensure the continuity of services for our patients. By merging with Lakeside, we are far more certain of a bright future and this is a great thing for those we serve.  We see this merger as an opportunity to expand the range of services we can offer the people of Whittlesey and Stanground.  This will ensure we have a solid base of general practice in the area for years to come. By working more closely with other GPs, we can introduce new services that will be much better for our patients.  We see this as a very positive step forward.”

Prof. Robert Harris, Managing Partner and CEO of Lakeside Healthcare Group said:

“We are hugely excited about the prospects for primary care provision across our wider region. The newly joined practices bring more talented doctors, nurses and other staff to the Lakeside Group meaning our ‘family doctor model’ has a very bright future indeed.  Quite simply, this is great news for patients and means that we can continue to provide primary care medical services for this and future generations.”

Lakeside Healthcare Group was previously appointed as one of only 14 ‘Multispecialty Community Provider Vanguards’ across the country by NHS England and the government to develop ‘New Models of Care’.

It is rolling out a ‘Primary Care Home’ model that brings together staff in community-based roles from acute hospitals, mental health providers as well as the voluntary sector. This is proven to be a better service for patients, especially for older patients with long term conditions.

Lakeside Healthcare Group stresses that no existing clinics or premises will be closed and that with more finance available, there are plans for additional investment in premises, staff and technology, all of which will benefit patients going forwards.

Published: Jul 1, 2019