THERE is a shortage of doctors in Tetbury, according to the town’s local surgery at a public meeting.

Kesh Makhecha, manager at Romney House Surgery, spoke about the lack of medical resources and services in the town at a meeting on Thursday, March 17.

He spoke of challenges facing the surgery: the shortage of doctors, the incoming surge in demand with 818 new houses in Tetbury (in about five years time), and the premises of the surgery which limits its range of services.

He said that first challenge with doctors would be made more acute by the retirement of a popular doctor, Christopher James Woods.

He said: “It will be very difficult to replace Dr Woods. In anticipation of his retirement, we are putting six days of nurse practitioners’ coverage in place of three days of doctor working hours.”

He said the surgery had put out adverts for the job, but had not been successful in finding a suitable candidate yet.

The second challenge was the additional 2000 patients that the surgery would serve due to new housing.

The third challenge, Mr Makhecha said, was premises. He said: “Tetbury has the most need for alternative GP services.

“We have the top spot for funding to develop additional GP services here, but it will take at least five years for that to happen.

“At least we know that the NHS is behind Romney House Surgery.”

Other issues raised by the public were the number of car parking spaces at the surgery, which currently stands at six. 

In response to requests for another surgery in the town, Mr Makhecha said that the GP had no authority over how many surgeries there were in the town.