BROWNSOVER residents will have to wait yet another year for local medical treatment after plans to construct a new surgery in the area were pushed back even further.
Campaigners for a new surgery in Brownsover have been given a new proposed opening date of early 2018 – two years later than originally planned.
Around 10,000 residents have had to use other surgeries since Brownsover Medical Practice closed in Spring 2015 due to disagreements between the NHS and the medical staff operating it.
In March last year, members of the Brownsover Patient Action Group (BPAG) were assured money for the new surgery had been secured and the building would open by Autumn this year.
Then, in November, the group was informed funding originally ‘ring fenced’ for the surgery was not secured and they would have to submit a new application.
But now NHS England says the new building will open in early 2018 – three years after initial discussions began.
Jake Stevenson from the Brownsover Patient Action Group, said: “By the time the NHS are proposing to build this it will be nearly three years since they closed our surgery, so to take 33 months from closing to opening is an absolute disgrace.
“In the past 12 months, we cannot see any progress that NHS England have made. They seem to be quite happy to go through meetings and discussions, and while we get it’s public money being spent, it can’t possibly take two years to approve a building that’s going to cost £1.7 million”
Rugby and Bulkington MP Mark Pawsey called for a debate in the House of Commons to ensure the people of Brownsover “get the new surgery that they deserve.”
He said: “It was of vital importance to hold that debate in order to ensure the fullest pressure on NHS England to work towards a solution as soon as possible.
“At the most recent meeting with NHS England it became clear they will not now regrettably meet the commitments they made last year to open the new surgery by the end of 2016.
“I share my constituents’ deep frustrations at the new timetable. I have made it clear to NHS England that I expect them to hold a series of public meetings in the very near future to explain themselves, and the situation, to my constituents in Brownsover.”
