🔔 Important Update for All The Drive Surgery Patients

Posted on:

Working Together to Protect and Improve Your GP Services

The Drive Surgery and Willows Medical Practice 98 Manford Way, Ilford, Chigwell IG7 4DF are carefully exploring the possibility of working more closely together in the future. At this early stage, this is only an exploration, and patient care remains our absolute priority.

We would like to reassure all patients that no immediate changes are being made at The Drive Surgery.

What is being considered?

The practices are considering a potential practice merger, which would mean working together as one GP practice while continuing to provide NHS care from both existing surgery buildings.

This is a well-established approach within the NHS to help GP services remain stable, safe, and sustainable for the future.

Why are we exploring this option?

Working together could help us to:

  • Maintain safe, high-quality patient care
  • Ensure consistent staffing levels
  • Provide better support during busy periods
  • Reduce disruption caused by staff shortages
  • Improve long-term resilience and stability
  • Continue to meet NHS standards and expectations

What will stay exactly the same?

  • Both surgery buildings will remain open
  • Patients will be able to access service at their current surgery but will be registered at the newly merged practice
  • No action is required from patients
  • Medical records will not change
  • Appointments will continue to be booked in the usual way
  • NHS care will remain free of charge

What might change in the future?

Any changes would be introduced slowly and carefully, with patient experience at the centre of all decisions. Possible future developments may include:

  • Sharing some doctors, nurses, and support staff
  • Using shared systems behind the scenes
  • Aligning ways of working across both sites
  • Offering appointments across both locations where this benefits patients

What happens next?

Patient and PPG feedback will be carefully considered before any final decision is made. We will keep patients fully informed of any outcomes or next steps.

Please complete the below questionnaire and email to nelondonicb.f86652discharge@nhs.net 

Patient Questionnaire