HEIGHTENED ‘anxiety’ from South Cotswolds householders has been highlighted as the future of a GP surgery near Malmesbury hangs in the balance.
Dr Roz Savage has challenged the Government and NHS in the area about ‘its continued lack of clarity’ over The Tolsey Surgery, or Sherston Surgery, in Sherston’s High Street.
The MP said she had received a ‘wishy-washy’ reply to a public petition on the practice’s future on Tuesday, December 2.
She said the Government’s response ‘has done little to reassure householders’, plus ‘anxiety among [her] constituents has increased as [there are now] less than two years remaining on the current lease’.
The Liberal Democrat has written to the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, asking for an update and a timeline for when a decision will be made over the practice’s future.
Tanya Burgess, chair of Sherston Parish Council, also wants clarification.
“The Tolsey Surgery was deemed ‘not fit for purpose’ many years ago by the governing body at the time,” she said.
“There was no plan then to address the situation, and it seems now the surgery is threatened with closure, there still is no plan.
“With more than 3,500 patients currently registered at the practice, the decision highlights a worrying lack of planning and strategic foresight by the ICB.
“The ICB has already confirmed Malmesbury Primary Care Centre is unable to absorb the additional capacity required to support patients from Sherston. Yet no alternative solution has been offered.
“This leaves thousands of householders without clarity on where or how they will receive essential healthcare.
“Beyond the immediate logistical issues, the loss of a surgery in the area has wider implications.
“It risks increasing pressure on already-overstretched neighbouring practices, worsening appointment availability across the region.
“It also undermines the principle of accessible, community-based healthcare.
“The community deserves answers.”
Martin Smith, Wiltshire Councillor for Sherston, said the Government response ‘makes no reference to its national strategy of providing more healthcare closer to home, which is what we are trying to preserve in Sherston’.
“I’ve been working with the GPs, the parish council, Wiltshire Council and the ICB for five years now trying to get a new GP surgery in Sherston,” he said.
“We are now fast approaching the end of the lease on the existing premises.
“We need urgent action from the ICB now before it’s too late.”
“I am extremely disappointed with the Government’s response,” Dr Savage said.
“The petition attracted 1,695 signatures from Sherston householders and neighbouring villages, which shows just how important this issue is for the community.
“With less than two years remaining on the current surgery building’s lease, people are rightly worried about what comes next.
“If the ICB does not commit to keeping a GP surgery in Sherston, there will be significant consequences for neighbouring NHS services in Malmesbury.
“They would be expected to absorb an additional 3,500 patients, which they simply cannot do.”
Observations on the petition from Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock included: “Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board has confirmed it has regular dialogue with the surgery team at Tolsey and is committed to supporting the practice with the day-to-day running of its services as well as larger, longer-term projects.
“The ICB continues to listen and engage with the practice and its staff and with interested parties from across the community in Sherston around all aspects of health provision in the area.”
A spokesperson for the ICB said: “The ICB continues to work closely with the practice, as well as partners in the area, in reviewing all available options for preserving primary care access for householders of Sherston.
“We do, however, recognise the urgency of the situation and remain committed to supporting the practice to develop a formal business case for consideration, which will then enable a decision to be made through the appropriate governance process.
“Our priority is to ensure continuity of care and to make decisions that are clinically sound, financially sustainable and aligned with the principles of accessible, high-quality healthcare.”
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