Surrey Downs GPs vote no to major service change

The CCG canvassed GPs’ views on the Better Services Better Values proposals before the plans were put out to public consultation.

The CCG was asked to indicate the level of support from GPs to meet the “four tests” as part of the NHS England assurance process for the programme that proposes major service change in south west London and north-east Surrey. 

There were a total of 148 votes, 67 per cent of eligible voters. Of these votes 110 voted no and 37 voted yes. There was one abstention.  

Under the proposals Epsom Hospital would have seen a reduction in services.

A joint statement from the remaining CCGs said that two “significant developments” have occurred since the Better Services Better Values proposals were first put forward - NHS England’s Call to Action and cuts in CCG funding.

The statement added: “We are taking stock of the fact that Surrey Downs CCG has chosen not to remain part of the Better Services Better Values programme, but we understand and respect their position.

Claire Fuller, a GP and chair of NHS Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Today’s important ballot result has shown that GPs within our CCG are not confident that the Better Services Better Values proposals are able to meet the needs of our local population at this time.”

Dr Fuller added: “We are not ruling out service changes in the future but we will now withdraw from the Better Services Better Values programme and together with our partners, focus our work on achieving the improvements we want to see locally.”