Arlesey surgery is now independent

Arlesey Medical Centre is now running as a social enterprise, handing over NHS services to the doctors, staff and community.

The practice, based in Arlesey High Street and founded by the former Bedfordshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust in 2003, will now run independently of Bedfordshire Community Health Services.

Arlesey Medical Centre clinical leader Dr Mike Attias, who signed the contract with NHS Bedfordshire, believes the move will start a new era for the surgery.

He said: “Becoming a social enterprise means complete independence, and is very much in keeping with David Cameron’s Big Society initiative – it means true democracy for the centre.

“With a social enterprise the patients have a major say in how the practice is run – of the board of six directors that will run the centre, two of these will be patients, in the role of chairman and vice-chairman, so they will have a lot of say in what goes on.”

The change means that the potential will always be there for patient-led changes, Dr Attias said.

He added: “If patients wanted to set up an anti-obesity clinic at the surgery, for example, there would be the scope to do this.”

Patients will continue to experience the same level of service, Dr Attias added.

He said: ““We are in no doubt that we will continue to deliver the same high quality care and services to our patients, by the same team, as well as deliver on our contract. We will continue to build excellent relationships with our contractual partners at NHS Bedfordshire, our GP colleagues and our patients – with their support we will enjoy a successful future together.”

Dr Attias will also be expanding his team to include a new doctor.

For more information about social enterprises in the NHS see www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyour

organisation/Socialenterprise/index.htm