Well over 100 people packed into Elstead Village Hall during the evening of Friday 20th March to attend a public meeting entitled ‘the future of healthcare provision in Elstead’. Organised by Elstead Parish Council (EPC), the meeting was led by Cllr Jane Jacobs (EPC Chair) supported by Cllrs Pat Murphy and Andy Goundry, Cllr Gemma Long (WBC Ward Cllr), Dr Sarah Hargrave (partner at Springfield Surgery), Sue Gowar (Chair of Springfield Surgery Patient Participation Group) and Guil Strathalmond (Stakeholder). EPC Cllrs Andy Hampshire and Richard Muir were also in attendance.
Cllr Jacobs welcomed all to the meeting and explained that “we are here to discuss the Future Provision of Healthcare IN Elstead and not just the future provision of Healthcare FOR Elstead.” Cllr Jacobs added that following a recent public exhibition held by a developer, Elstead Parish Council was aware that there might be some misunderstandings and wanted to bring residents up to speed with the current status of ‘the project’.
Cllr Jacobs explained that the Sunray Farm Site was one of three approved development sites in the Elstead & Weyburn Neighbourhood Plan which was adopted in June 2024. Within its development area, Sunray Farm has an allocation of 0.25 hectare of non-residential space. The original plan for the non-residential space was the creation of a co-working hub however, the change in work practices following covid, along with the need to provide a larger surgery to accommodate current and future registered patients, meant that Elstead Parish Council was keen to champion a new doctors surgery on this location instead.
Dr Hargrave explained the practice’s current situation noting that “a new building would bring enormous benefits to patients and to the wider community…. it would also give the staff and clinicians the room they need to work effectively, to support you all the best way they can ….. it would create a setting that is fit for modern general practice, now and in the future.”
Cllr Jacobs confirmed that Elstead Parish Council has met regularly with key stakeholders including the NHS, WBC, Springfield Surgery Partners, Springfield practice owners and Springfield patient participation group to progress the development of a new Doctor’s Surgery in Elstead. Based on the projected population growth and expected future development, neither Waverley Borough Council, nor the NHS are in a position to fund the capital cost of a new Doctor’s Surgery namely because their funding rules can only take into account future growth and cannot correct a pre-existing problem. One of the other reasons that the NHS is unable to fund a new Doctor’s Surgery in Elstead is that there is a proposal to build a new Medical Centre in Milford and the NHS is already involved in this project. On this point, Cllr Jacobs highlighted the lack of direct public transport link between Elstead and Milford meaning that residents without access to a car will have difficulty in accessing GP services there further emphasizing “the need for the provision of medical facilities IN Elstead and not just For Elstead”.
In spite of the funding restrictions, both the NHS and Waverley Borough Council have categorically stated that they will support a new Doctor’s Surgery in Elstead if Elstead Parish Council and stakeholders can raise the necessary funds to build a suitable premise. Although Waverley is not in a position to provide financial assistance, it is prepared to support with experience and expertise, having recently built a new Doctor’s Surgery in Farnham.
Guil Strathalmond explained that it was impossible to put a price tag on the project owing to the various permutations. However, much work had been done behind the scenes to explore methods of financing such a project and these could be a mixture of: –
• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – Elstead Parish Council has agreed that its share of all neighbourhood CIL could be used exclusively for the Doctor’s Surgery but this might only cover part of the funding,
• There are specialist builders of Doctor’s Surgeries who could lease the site from its owners and finance the build from their own resources. Elstead Parish Council are discussing with the developer of Sunray Farm whether it could build the Centre and lease it to the doctors – this is at very early stages of exploration.
• Elstead Parish Council could borrow some of the funds but are nervous of doing so as they do not wish to burden present and future residents with any debt.
• Individuals might wish to make personal contributions to either the building itself or its furnishings and equipment.
Cllr Jacobs brough proceedings to a closer by summarising “If, as we believe to be the case, the community is keen to safeguard a Doctor’s Surgery in Elstead going forward, Elstead Parish Council is committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to make that happen”. Cllr Jacobs asked for a ‘show of hands’ and there was unanimous support from all who were present. The public meeting concluded with a Q&A session during which it was clarified that the surgery’s list of registered patients was not just limited to Elstead but that a large percentage came from neighbouring villages (and whose parish councils have indicated their support to the scheme already). Questions over parking and access were also covered. The meeting ended with a “thank you” to all who had attended and a final plea that if anyone could support this project to contact the parish council clerk email: elsteadpc.clerk@gmail.com.