Merger of GP surgeries slammed by councillors
AMBITIOUS plans to merge four doctors’ surgeries into one purpose-built facility have been labelled “totally unsuitable” by angry councillors in Walsall.
NHS Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) plans to build a state-of-the-art health centre on Lower Forster Street, where the former Jabez Clift leatherworks factory once stood.
The plan proposes to move Lichfield Street Surgery, Sycamore House Surgery, The Limes Surgery and Saddlers Medical Centre into the £8 million facility.
However, Paddock ward councillors Gurmeet Sohal, Rose Martin and Peter Washbrook have now set up a petition to block the proposals because of its location.
Councillor Sohal said: “We’re not against a new health centre but the location is a nightmare for people to get to. The majority of residents in my ward are elderly and they would struggle to get here. I really feel sorry for people. There’s no public transport close to the site and it’s off a busy main road.”
Cllr Rose added: “A blind man on a galloping horse could see that the Jabez site is completely unacceptable for a health centre.”
In a joint statement to Walsall residents, the petition reads: “We, the undersigned, oppose development of a health facility at the former Jabez Cliff factory, Lower Forster Street, Walsall.
“The lack of parking, being on a main road junction in Walsall town centre, with the congestion and resulting pollution, the lack of direct public transport links with no opportunity to deliver those links make this site totally unsuitable for the development of a health facility.
“The access to this site for emergency vehicles, on a one-way system, will be restricted and dangerous.”
If successful, the merger would affect more than 20,000 patients registered at the four named surgeries.
Dr Martin Stevens, GP partner at Lichfield Street, Sycamore House and The Limes Surgeries, said: “We believe that moving to larger, modern premises will significantly improve the environment for patients and staff.
“Bringing a range of organisations under one roof and increasing the size of the practices will mean we will be able to cater for the long-term population growth.”
A consultation is ongoing and residents are encouraged to put their views forward by Saturday, January 20.