This should be a rallying cry to go up across the length and breadth of the UK, in a campaign to keep GP services local and stop the current government’s drive for centralised ‘polyclinics’ in whatever guise they may come. Wrington is facing a battle with the PCT to keep its surgery, and all who care about the need to keep services local should come out and applaud the people of Wrington in their effort to keep their surgery open.
Last week I attended a meeting of the Wrington Save Our Surgery (SOS) group, and I was appalled to hear of the shenanigans and apparent mis-information being used by the PCT to justify the closure of the surgery.
The Wrington Surgery (see below) is a modern building complete with solar water heating, it was built less than twenty years ago and it is clearly valued by the residents of Wrington, 580 of whom have signed a petition to keep the place open, with signs up in the local shops in the high street.
Local opinion seems to be that some of the current GPs, who are approaching retirement age, would like to cash in their stake, and that the PCT has a directive from Whitehall that ‘bigger is better’. Liam Fox M.P. seemed to start off by backing the good people of Wrington, then appeared to have changed his mind in favour of closing the surgery and now he's launched a survey. Well Dr. Fox, I think you will find the people have already spoken!
In the mean time the 'consultation' continues, so lets make sure the people's voice is really heard and the surgery is saved.
Centralising surgeries and making people travel further to get the doctor is an out of date idea even before it has been put into action. One thing is certain, fuel is going to get more expensive, and climate change really does mean that we should all be walking and using bicycles more, and using our cars less. I say support the people of Wrington to keep their surgery open! And then let’s have a proper re-think of how we improve what we have, rather than spending 3 million pounds of tax payer’s money (even if it is spread over ten years) on something that is not wanted and not needed.
Brian at Wrington Surgery
Signs up in a local shop window
