Liberal Democrats call for investment in GPs to be prioritised

At a meeting of the Conservative Mayor’s Executive, the Liberal Democrats have demanded that investment in new GP premises be included in the Joint Forward Plan for Health as a priority. The plan makes no mention of any solutions to the issues around GP access or new GP provision despite this being a major concern for Bedford Borough residents.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health Councillor Dean Crofts asked “The joint working document between the Council and the local NHS on tonight’s agenda makes no mention of any solutions around GP access or new GP provision. This is concerning, especially when we need new and increased access to GP facilities in Wootton and Wixams urgently.

“Will the executive resolve this evening, to add GP estates and more GPs to the Joint Working Document and agree to look at building new GP estates in Wootton and Wixams by looking at innovative joint capital investment schemes in building new GP estates with the BLMK ICB and working with the ICB to establish long term revenue budgets to sustain and expand GP facilities?”

In the meeting, the new Conservative executive failed to have a discussion on the question asked when the agenda item was discussed and failed to agree to amend the report to include GP access as a Priority Need for Bedford Borough Residents.

Cllr Crofts commented: “I was shocked that the Conservative cabinet just ignored the crucial issue of GP access when they came to agreeing the report. This was their chance to escalate this issue with the NHS and they totally blew it. Residents suffering with poor GP access will be as disappointed as me that cabinet members just voted through the flawed report as it was - missing this most fundamental point.”

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have campaigned for a fair deal on health for Bedford Borough residents for years. Residents have shown time and again that access to primary care is a key issue for them including through a Liberal Democrat petition with over 1,000 signatures.