Developments
Activity has continued apace over the summer to keep things moving forward at Assura Hampshire Health. We are hopefully close to winning our first contract to provide a service. This will be for flexible sigmoidoscopies. This service is currently run by GPSIs Steve Colley and David Knight., from Tadley Surgery or The Chase in Bordon. Local GPs are familiar with the quality of service
that they provide and will be reassured to know that under the auspices of Assura Hampshire Health the same clinicians will continue to provide that service. The location may be different, and because we have the opportunity to take a fresh look at how things are done, we can use the the expertise and resources available to design a first-rate service for patients. Current activity in this service is around
700 cases a year.

Premises
As everyone will know, Church Grange and Bramblys
Grange surgeries are finally escaping from their decrepit old premises to sparkling new accommodation at Crown Heights. We wish them all the best for their moves. One very important decision for the CMC at Assura Hampshire Health concerns where our services will be provided from. A sizeable clinical space is available at
Crown Heights which could be fitted out to our specification and which would provide an identifying focal point for the organisation. The CMC are looking very closely (and with professional advice) at the logistics of taking the lease on this space. An alternative would be to rent space as required. At least initially,
Health Service contracts would not fully occupy it so to rent may seem attractive, but taking a lease would give us much more influence. The possibility of doing this and perhaps subletting unused space is being very carefully considered. Also the possibility of finding other accommodation within the town is being investigated. If any LLP members have views on this, do let us know.

Other work in progress
Assura Medical are continuing to help with important aspects of commencing service provision such as policies and procedures which must be formally stated and documented in order to ensure HCC compliance for any new service. Also extensive modelling is being done for proposed services to assess their viability. Assura are also providing some training
for CMC members to help enhance the committee’s effectiveness.
The Assura Hampshire Health website is having the finishing touches applied- this will be accessible by all LLP members and will provide up to date information about our services.
A lot of discussion and negotiation is going on between the Foundation Trust, the Practice Based Commissioners and ourselves over how to move services forward. We are enthusiastic that in these changing and challenging times for the Health Service, Assura Hampshire Health will provide a mechanism that enables local clinicians to have a say in how at least some aspects of Health Service care are delivered to their patients.

Your feedback is important- do email a CMC member with any thoughts or queries about

David graduated from Guy's Hospital in 1978. After completing his GP training in Brighton he moved to Basingstoke in 1984 to join the partnership at Gillies Health Centre, where he has been ever since. Roles in the Practice have included setting up much of the original IT systems in the early 90's and project managing the redevelopment of the new Gillies Health Centre. He is currently Managing Partner. Outside the practice he has contributed chapters to the RCGP hand book and the BMJ "How to do it" series, and for four years wrote a weekly pseudonymous diary column for Doctor magazine. He is married with two grown up children. In his spare time plays bridge and enjoys fell walking.

Dr Andrew Cameron trained in Medicine in Dublin following a Science degree at Dundee. He has been a Partner at The Hackwood Partnership in central Basingstoke since 1995. He is a GP Trainer and also teaches medical students. Married with two children his interests outside Medicine include aviation (he is a current pilots licence holder), and classic cars.

I qualified from Southampton Medical School in 1997 and have worked in North Hants, Worthing, Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals. I spent a year working in New Zealand with the surgical team at Waikato Hospital. My medical interests are ENT, Minor Ops, and Respiratory Medicine. I have two children who keep me busy but grounded! I share my wife's passion for sailing but also enjoy sea kayaking and mountain biking.

© Assura Hampshire Health 2007