Victoria Medical Centre in Barking, Five Elms Health Centre in Dagenham, Rainham Health Centre in Rainham and Upminster Medical Centre in Upminster joined East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) on April 1, 2024.
The four practices have over 30 staff and provide care to over 17,500 members of the Barking, Dagenham, Rainham and Upminster communities. The practices have integrated with ELFT, provider of primary care, community health, and mental health services.
ELFT's Interim CEO, Lorraine Sunduza, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, Edwin Ndlovu, and Executive Director for Primary Care, Dr Mohit Venkataram, along with members of the Primary Care Directorate Management Team, visited the four GP practices on April 2, 2024, extending a warm welcome to the newly joined members.
The event showcased the collaborative efforts between ELFT and the new practices, focusing on enhancing patient experiences and fostering strong partnerships with local health and social care organisations. This approach reflects a commitment to patient-led care, a fundamental aspect of the new GP providers' pledge.
The new practices are now part of the ELFT Primary Care Directorate, which includes Leighton Road Surgery in Leighton Buzzard, Cauldwell Medical Centre in Bedford, Kingsway and Bramingham Medical Centre in Luton, and Newham Transitional Practice, Health E1 and Greenhouse practices in East London.
ELFT, a provider of primary care for 15 years, has a list size of eighty thousand patients across the boroughs of inner north east London, outer north east London, Bedfordshire, and Luton.
This union highlights ELFT's commitment to local population health and its alignment with the NHS England Fuller stocktake report. As the first Marmot Trust, ELFT is dedicated to tackling key health determinants like poverty and unemployment, broadening the impact of an NHS Trust in holistic wellbeing and community welfare.
Lorraine Sunduza, Interim CEO of ELFT, expressed her pride and optimism:
"The progress of our primary care directorate fills me with immense pride. We are in a privileged position with the support of our communities to make a positive difference in people's quality of life."
Edwin Ndlovu, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, who is set to assume executive leadership of the primary care portfolio at ELFT in May, extended a warm welcome to the new members:
"I extend a hearty welcome. It is an exciting time as we collaborate to focus on community-centric healthcare, forging stronger connections, and innovatively addressing essential health challenges as pioneers in the Marmot Trust."
The ELFT Primary Care Directorate can be contacted at elft.primarycaredirectorate@nhs.net for further information.
