Harbottle clinic/mobile healthcare unit

Harbottle clinic/mobile healthcare unit

Please note that this engagement period has now ended. Thank you for all of your feedback.

We want to make sure that people in Harbottle continue to have access to GP services in the village. We are also exploring a way to increase access to GP, public health and community/voluntary sector services in Northumberland.

The option we are exploring is to have a mobile healthcare unit which we could use to provide GP services in Harbottle on a Thursday (instead of providing the service from the village hall). The healthcare unit would be parked in the same place each week. It would not be mobile within the village.

This mobile healthcare unit could then also be used to bring other GP, public and community/voluntary services across Northumberland on other days. The unit would be a clinical environment, comfortable, heated and wheelchair accessible. It would also have separate waiting and consulting rooms to enable patient privacy.

Please be assured that we are not planning to reduce GP services, in Harbottle, in any way. These services may be provided from the mobile healthcare unit, rather than from the village hall.

As you may be aware, the Harbottle GP/nurse clinic is delivered by clinicians from The Rothbury Practice, which is part of Northumbria Primary Care (NPC). NPC is a subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The mobile healthcare unit could be used to provide GP and community health services. It could also be used to engage with local communities – by public health teams and community/voluntary organisations.

We have compiled a document containing some frequently asked questions. You can find it here. You can also find a copy of the patient letter here.

We want the views of patients and stakeholders on this proposal. You can provide that feedback in several ways:

• Complete our online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GW3HHGK. It should take roughly 10 – 15 minutes. This survey will remain open until Friday 23 February 2024.
  • A hard copy will be available from and will need to be dropped off at, the weekly Harbottle clinic on a Thursday morning or The Rothbury Practice and Longframlington surgery receptions.
    
• Patients who have a planned appointment at the clinic in Harbottle on Thursday 14 December or Thursday 1 February 2024, will be able to speak to someone if they would like to give feedback.
  
• Patients who have a planned appointment at The Rothbury Practice on Tuesday 19 December or Thursday 18 January 2024 between 10.00am and 2.00pm will be able to speak to someone if they would like to give feedback.
  
• Two drop-in engagement sessions for patients and stakeholders will be held. People do not need to register to attend. All are welcome to attend.
  • Tuesday 9 January, 10.00am – 2.00pm.
    • Harbottle Village Hall,
      Harbottle,
      NE65 7DG
  • Tuesday 13 February, 3.00pm – 7.00pm.
    • Harbottle Village Hall,
      Harbottle,
      NE65 7DG
      
• Write or email the practice management team:
  • The Rothbury Practice,
    Whitton Bank Road,
    Rothbury,
    Northumberland,
    NE65 7RW
    or e-mail: nencicb-nor.rothburypractice@nhs.net.
    
• Provide feedback to Healthwatch Northumberland which is an independent organisation.
  • Email: info@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk
  • Website: www.healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk/contact/
  • Text: 07413 385275. Healthwatch also offers a callback service. Send them a text and they will arrange to call you back at a time that suits you.
  • Write to:
    FREEPOST
    Healthwatch Northumberland
    Adapt (NE)
    Burn Lane
    Hexham
    Northumberland, NE46 3HN
    

Following the programme of engagement with patients and a wide range of stakeholders, all feedback will be considered, and a final decision will be made, hopefully in March next year.