19th September 2012

LYME REGIS: Who will run medical centre?

by Francesca Evans

AN ANNOUNCEMENT on who will be taking over the provision of services at Lyme Regis Medical Centre is expected later this month.

Dorset Primary Care Trust (PCT) went out to tender for new service providers earlier this year after the controversial decision was taken to evict Dr Ian Conway, following a long-running dispute over the ownership of the building.

An update was given on the tendering process by Andrew Morris of Dorset PCT at last week’s LymeForward meeting, but he was unable to announce who the new service provider would be.

Mr Morris said: “This process has been going on since March 2012 when the PCT placed a national advert for service providers to take over Lyme Regis Medical Centre. We had 31 expressions of interest and 17 confirmed acceptance of tender documentation.”

This was filtered down to five firm tenders for provision of services, who were shown around the medical centre and invited to present their proposals.

Final submissions were made on July 18th before a recommendation was made to the PCT board at the end of July.

Mr Morris explained that letters had been sent to providers informing them of the of the decision but they were now in a standstill period, in which providers can dispute decision, until September 24th.

It is expected that an announcement of the new service provider will be made that week through the local press and on the PCT’s website.

Mr Morris admitted that “more time has slipped by then we would have envisaged” and they would have to “work hard” to get the contract in place.

“Hopefully this saga will come to an end quite quickly,” he added.

STABILITY

Town and district councilor, Daryl Turner, asked what the lease period would be, adding that he would like to see some stability.

Mr Morris said: “I’m not sure but I believe its 25 years. It will certainly be a minimum of 10 years.”

Councillor Turner also asked about NHS dental services in the area, following the switch to the private sector at Kent House Dental Practice and the news that Charmouth Dental Practice would close in December.

Mr Morris said this was a completely different process.

Chairman of Lyme Regis Development Trust, Wendy Davies, asked: “Is there likely to be another NHS surgery open in Charmouth in the New Year?”

Mr Morris replied: “I wish I could answer that question but I don’t know. I will take back your concerns though.”

Referring to Charmouth patients being relocated to Kent House, Mrs Davies added: “There’s obviously considerable concern at the moment with people getting letters saying they have been relocated to a dentist that is not actually an NHS dentist, although I believe he is offering NHS services temporarily.”

LYME REGIS: Who will run medical centre?

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