Cllr Graeme C oombes has pressed NHS commissioners to commit to a new GP surgery serving Wixams residents.
At the 15th March meeting of the Bedford Borough Health and Wellbeing Board, health and social care providers and commissioners discussed a report authored by the Borough Council’s Planning department which made a compelling case for a GP surgery in Wixams.
The initial plans for the Wixams development included the provision in the short term of a medical facility in Village 1 before a GP surgery would be provided in the town centre once the development had expanded. A plot of land was set aside accordingly, although a GP facility has not yet been forthcoming, leaving Wixams residents to travel to Ampthill and Bedford for doctor’s appointments.
Cllr Coombes attended the Health and Wellbeing Board and questioned representatives of the Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group on how much longer Wixams residents would have to wait for their own GP surgery.
Following the meeting, he said:
‘At the start of the meeting, I asked a number of questions to the NHS representatives, pressing the case for a GP surgery at Wixams. I asked that in their strategy for the southern part of the Borough, Wixams be made a high priority for a new GP facility, owing to the growing Wixams population and for the benefit of both Wilstead and Wixams residents.
‘The NHS representatives gave fairly non-committal and waffling responses, without demonstrating any clear understanding of the needs of either Wixams or any of the new developments in the south of the Borough. I was deeply unimpressed by their response.
‘A recent visit to my own GP resulted in a 14 mile round trip journey, which is frankly ridiculous. These new housing developments are meant to be about ‘sustainable living’ that should not incur long car journeys for basic services. I have no idea how anyone who does not drive manages to put up with this.
‘I have subsequently written to both Alistair Burt MP as Health Minister and our local MP, Nadine Dorries, asking for their support in making the case to the NHS for much more local provision of GP services for Wixams and Wilstead residents.’
