FURTHER delays in guaranteeing a surgery for the Brownsover area of Rugby has left campaigners feeling ‘let down’.
Members of the Brownsover Patient Action Group (BPAG) say a replacement for the defunct Brownsover Medical Practice is not on schedule – after it was originally planned to open this year.
Around 10,000 Brownsover residents have had to resort to other surgeries after their local practice closed in Spring 2015 due to disagreements between the NHS and the medical staff operating it.
Last year, the group were told work on the new surgery would not start until early next year after originally ‘ring fenced’ funds were not secured.
But that deadline will also not be met after the group was informed the project would be combined with a new surgery development in Foleshill in Coventry – adding further delays in the approval process by NHS England.
Jake Stephenson, who heads up the patient action group, said: “The BPAG was outraged at this change of approach which meant that the prospect of a new surgery on Brownsover was becoming more distant if at all, and that the community would continue to suffer the significant inconvenience from not having a surgery locally.”
The group has since met with David Williams, West Midlands locality director for NHS England, where they learned the timetable for constructing the surgery will be revised, and more public meetings would give clarity to Brownsover residents.
Mr Stephenson added: “We just feel let down again. We were promised a public meeting where we would be able to engage with NHS England and the people responsible for building the new surgery but this has still not happened.
“We now call on David Williams to fulfill his promise to call a public meeting and stand in front of the patients and the community of Brownsover and the rapidly expanding local areas and explain exactly when the new surgery will open.”
Responding to the group, David Williams said: “We are pleased to update local residents that ground surveys have now been carried out on the site.
“This essential survey work provides us with detailed information about the land and the ground beneath it. The reports from the site surveys will help us with the design of the new building.
“NHS England is committed to having a public meeting and addressing the concerns of the community. Once all the information is in front of us we will make sure residents have a chance to talk to us before any work is carried out.”
