St Mary’s Surgery was operating from premises that no longer matched the scale or direction of the practice. Patient numbers had increased, substantial housing growth was adding further demand and the building was struggling to accommodate an expanding workforce and changing models of primary care. Some administrative functions were already being delivered from separate accommodation. The practice had identified an extension as its preferred solution, but needed to turn that operational pressure into a credible, affordable and investable proposition capable of progressing through the NHS capital approvals process.
What we did
At Scale provided the strategic and programme leadership needed to move the scheme from initial ambition towards a deliverable premises development. Working alongside the practice, we supported the Expression of Interest, Project Initiation Document and Full Business Case development, bringing together the clinical, strategic, financial and estates evidence required to support investment.
Our role went well beyond writing a business case. We coordinated input from commissioners, architects, quantity surveyors and specialist advisers, local authority leads creating a single programme around a technically complex process. We developed the case for change around population and housing growth, capacity pressure, workforce expansion, new models of care and increasing PCN activity, ensuring the proposed building solution followed future clinical and operational need.
We developed capital cost, affordability, funding and cashflow modelling, and worked through construction phasing, decant, temporary accommodation and service continuity. We also assembled wider evidence and support from the LMC, GP training colleagues, the University of Cambridge and the Patient Participation Group. This demonstrated value beyond additional rooms, including future service development, workforce growth and increased training capacity.
Outcomes
The practice has been able to fully meet the demands of the strategic local growth plan by proving registration and ongoing health support to new patients. The practice is thriving in it’s new setting offering innovative and new models of care, meeting the complex health needs within the community and expanding and developing it’s clinical and non-clinical workforce offering greater flexibility to patients. An active and innovative practice within the PCN they have continued to support the strategy and growth ambitions within the locality into developing a new Neighbourhood model.
Patient and staff feedback continues to improve, with a focus on the welcoming and revised building offering better access, delivery whilst participanting in developing services, addressing challenges and supporting the access, growth and new models of care.
