Patient Newsletter Update

What Happens Next?

 A decision will now be made by the partners regarding closing the Upper Beeding branch surgery. We will continue our engagement on how best to deliver safe, sustainable and high quality care for all our patients and want to work with you all to design a service that meets your health and wellbeing needs now and in the future.

The final decision on the future of Upper Beeding Surgery will be made by NHS Sussex later this summer. Until then, we are continuing to listen carefully to all feedback and looking at how we can support patients if the closure goes ahead.

Clarifying Some Common Questions and Concerns

Who owns the Upper Beeding building?

Having checked all the legal documents and deeds, we can confirm that the Upper Beeding surgery building is privately owned by the GP partners.  The bungalow was purchased by partners using their own capital / mortgage.  If the surgery is closed, the proceeds from any sale would return to those partners who are financially invested in the building.

Why is the building no longer suitable?

Although it has served the community for decades, the building is a 1950s residential bungalow that no longer meets modern clinical or safety standards.  In its current condition it would not be compliant with CQC required standards due to significant structural and decorative issues, these include, but are not limited to - infection prevention and control, outdated/unsafe wiring, plumbing, and layout/internal geography. 

The bungalow predates the purpose-built Steyning Health Centre, which, in contrast, is designed with clinical service delivery and patient care in mind and is therefore the best fit for the safe and effective delivery of healthcare now and for the foreseeable future.

Is this only about financial saving

No—this decision is about ensuring we can continue to provide safe, sustainable, and high-quality care for all our patients now and in the future. While the branch surgery costs over £30,000 a year to operate, the financial impact goes beyond this. All associated expenses—including maintenance, repairs, and day-to-day running costs—come directly from the practice’s overall income.

This means less funding is available to recruit and retain clinical staff, which directly affects the level of care we can offer. Additionally, the branch surgery places ongoing demands on our team’s time and resources, diverting them from the main site, where we are better equipped to provide more efficient and comprehensive care.

We are committed to improving services overall and making better use of our team and facilities to improve patient flow and patient experience.

What about access and transport?

We recognise travel is a concern for some patients, particularly older or vulnerable people.
Thanks to your feedback, we’ve already taken some action:

The volunteer drivers of the Steyning Good Neighbours scheme now have reserved parking discs available at reception in order that they can access to the ambulance bay when not in use, to help with easier drop-offs.

In addition, we are exploring other additional transport options, such as a community minibus for flu vaccination clinics and we are discussing these options with local community partners.

What if I can’t travel to Steyning?

We will continue to offer home visits for housebound patients, and voluntary transport support remains available through the Friends of Steyning.  Our aim is to ensure that every patient who needs to be seen by a clinician, is seen by a clinician. 

What We’ve Learned from You

Your feedback has been incredibly valuable and is already shaping our plans for the future.
We are exploring ideas to make services more accessible, improve appointment availability, and reduce unnecessary visits by offering “one-stop” reviews for long-term conditions. We continue to work closely with the Patient Participation Group and Healthwatch West Sussex to ensure we hear your views and welcome your ideas and solutions to make further improvements at Steyning Medical Practice.

We know change is difficult, and we’re grateful for your continued support as we work to deliver the best possible care for our whole community.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch through the Patient participation group or via Healthwatch.

Published: May 2, 2025