We need a new GP surgery for our town to cope with demands

IT’S not controversial to claim that our health services are struggling.

The concept of the NHS - something this country is rightly proud of - has been undermined by years of political failure.

GP surgeries are the front door to the NHS.

That’s why so many people will be concerned by the extreme pressure GP services are under.

The chair of the Local Medical Committee reckons each GP is seeing 10% more people and each patient has twice as much wrong with them.

That’s not a tolerable position and it’s not the fault of GPS.

It’s been suggested that the number of available appointments might be reduced.

Primary care services need more support, so Liberal Democrats in Cheltenham are calling for a new GP surgery to help the town cope with increasing demands.

It’s true that this country has a shortage of GPS, but there are plans in place nationally to recruit and retain more. It’s vital that local areas do what we can to prepare for the future.

The project is already on the list of items to be potentially delivered as part of the Cheltenham Gloucester and Tewkesbury Strategic Local Plan.

Earlier this week, councillors backed my formal council motion calling for action.

It was a shame that Conservatives couldn’t support the proposal, but that might not come as a surprise.

Their government’s failures on the health service have been discussed at length in the press, including in the Echo.

Our MP’S plan to reinstate 24/7 doctor-led A&E at Cheltenham General has not succeeded.

The shortage of midwives means mums cannot give birth at Cheltenham’s Birth Centre.

The number of four-week-long waits for GP appointments in Gloucestershire is alarming, not least because the number of patients for each GP is too high – far in excess of the British Medical Association target.

My council motion is one of the final things I’ll do as a councillor after 10 years of service.

I’ve enjoyed every minute of that time. We’ve achieved a lot and I’d like to say a huge thanks to local people and all our hardworking local groups.

But there’s so much more work to do.