The current building has been in use as a doctors surgery since the late 1970s.  The building was originally used as a sales and marketing suite by Charles Church whilst the Snows Ride estate was being built.  It was later converted to its current use.

Unfortunately the building has become unsuitable for modern medical practice.  The main short-comings are:

● no disabled access into or around the building

● no disabled toilet facilities

● lack of patient privacy within building due to poor sound proofing

● no fire detection or safe fire exits

● inadequate parking

● inadequate examination facilities

● no room ventilation

● poor provision of information technology and clinical computer systems

Within the last few years there has been an increase in the legislation that governs how we operate our premises.  The most notable of these is the Disability Discrimination Act.  At present we do not have disabled access into the building or within the building.  For example there is no access to the toilet for patient with mobility problems.  The Act applies to patients and staff and as a healthcare provider and an employer we have to take action to ensure we do not discriminate.

The building does not have a fire detection system or a fire exit.  This raises obvious risks to patients and staff and once again does need to be addressed.

The Care Quality Commission will soon take over the supervision and regulation of GP practice premises.  The implementation date has recently been pushed back from October until 2012.  As an organisation they will be responsible for enforcing regulations on disabled access, infection control and privacy and dignity.  In all of these areas the branch surgery is deficient.

The building is not owned by the practice but is leased from a landlord.  As part of the consultation process we will be asking the landlord to consider what improvements they would be willing to consider.  In the past we have requested certain improvements and offered to pay a proportion of the cost but the landlord has declined to make these changes.

We accept that a number of Windlesham residents rely on the branch surgery and would have difficulty getting to Lightwater.

● there are less than 50 households within walking distance of the branch surgery.  For these patients that do not have access to a car and are therefore not able to get to Lightwater we will arrange to visit at home.  

● currently 97% of patients using the branch surgery arrive by car

● only 52% of patients using the branch surgery live in Windlesham, the remainder travel from West End, Lightwater, Bagshot and Camberley for these patients the main surgery in Lightwater is closer

● The branch surgery is less than 1 mile from the Lightwater site