Latham House Medical Practice is investing in both its workforce and facilities as part of a major programme to improve access to appointments and strengthen services for local patients.
Like many GP practices across the country, the Practice has faced challenges in recent years balancing increasing patient demand with changes in workforce availability. As GPs retire, relocate, or pursue new opportunities, maintaining continuity and appointment capacity can be difficult, and the Practice recognises that access to GP appointments has not always been where patients or staff would like it to be.
To address this, the Practice has embarked on a significant recruitment programme and is expanding its clinical facilities to support a larger workforce.
Since May, the Practice has welcomed Dr Mayank Patel, Dr Abi Ludlow and Dr Tochukwu Uzochukwu as salaried GPs. Later this year, three additional doctors will join the team, alongside First Contact Physiotherapist Alex Roberts.
While some of these appointments will replace clinicians who have moved on, others represent genuine growth in the Practice workforce and a reduction in the reliance on temporary locum cover. The aim is to provide greater stability for patients, improve continuity of care, and increase the number of appointments available.
Alongside recruitment, substantial investment is being made in the Practice estate.
Suite 8 is being refurbished to provide four additional GP consulting rooms, while Suite 9 (formerly Jupes) is being transformed to create four further clinical rooms and a dedicated reception area. These new facilities will support GP, nursing and healthcare assistant services and will enable the Practice to make the best use of its growing clinical team.
Practice Manager Mr Paul Crosbie said:
“We know that some of our patients have found it difficult at times to access a GP appointment as quickly as they would like, and we understand the frustration this can cause.
“General practice is facing workforce challenges nationally, and as clinicians move on we have worked hard to maintain services through a combination of recruitment and locum support. We are delighted that we have been successful in attracting a number of excellent new clinicians to join our team.”
CEO and Partner GP Dr Matthew Riley commented:
“By expanding both our workforce and our clinical space, we are creating a stronger and more sustainable service for the future. Our goal is to improve access, offer greater continuity of care, and ensure that patients can receive the right care from the right professional when they need it.”
The Practice hopes to have both refurbished suites fully operational in time to support the 2026 flu vaccination programme and believes the investment will deliver lasting benefits for patients across the local community.
These developments represent a significant commitment to the future of local primary care and demonstrate the Practice’s determination to respond positively to the changing needs of its patients.