Six GP surgeries in Bury have merged to make one practice, with the support of a six-figure property funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Tower Family Healthcare was created when Greenmount Medical Centre, Spring Lane Surgery, Tottington Medical Practice and the Yacht, Waves and Anchor Minden Family Practices combined earlier this month.
The merger is one of the biggest in the UK, and the surgery is now thought to be the largest in the country with all patient’s details stored on a single database.
Combining the practices will be able to boost services on offer to patients, reducing waiting times and providing people with greater access to medical specialists based across its four sites.
The efficiencies made as a result of the merger will also allow the practice to invest in staff development, and new equipment and technology in the coming years.
Tower Family Healthcare now has over 100 members of staff that will provide care to its circa 50,000 patients across Bury. The business secured a funding package from Lloyds Bank to help purchase the building at its site in Greenmount.
Paul Massey, executive partner at Tower Family Healthcare, said: “The new merger will revolutionise the way that we’re able to support people across Bury, providing us with the flexibility needed to offer a higher standard of care.
“For example, as we develop cross site working, our patients will be able to see a doctor with particular clinical specialties at any of our four sites, and we will move to be able to guarantee that people will be able to secure a same-day appointment in urgent cases.
“Merging the surgeries has been a complex process, but the support that we received from the relationship team at Lloyds Bank has been phenomenal throughout.
“Not only did they arrange a property funding package that was exactly suited to our needs, but they were always on hand to act as a sounding board when we experienced challenges.”
Kate Salt, relationship manager for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Tower Family Healthcare is an innovative practice that has its patients’ needs at the heart of everything it does.
“Merging the sites will enable the practice to offer a more efficient service, ensuring that people across the area receive the highest possible standard of care.
“Our latest Healthcare Index has revealed that GPs confidence has risen over the past 12 months, and nearly three quarters expect the average surgery to have more 10,000 patients in the next five years.
“It’s therefore vital that GP surgeries have the correct support in place to help them to expand and tackle new challenges, which is why we have specialist relationship managers who can provide the tailored guidance needed to enable healthcare businesses to prosper.”
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