Liberal Democrats’ Health Campaign results in £9 million for new GP buildings

The Council has announced £9 million to be allocated to the Capital Programme to provide the initial start-up funding for new GP premises. This comes after years of campaigning from the Liberal Democrats calling on the government to prioritise primary care access and after plans for improved GP facilities were dropped in January this year. The lack of action from government has meant the Liberal Democrats have pushed the Council to step in to provide this funding.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Henry Vann said “This is fantastic news and something we have been pushing on for a long time. Our residents need better access to GPs and this funding should help provide the buildings for new GPs to come and work in the Borough. Earlier this year we lost out on new doctors because of a lack of space, this cannot happen again and I’m very glad the Council are now stepping in when the government have failed.”

Councillor Sue Abood led the campaign for improvements to the Wootton surgery in her own ward. She said “I’m very pleased that our hard work has paid off and funding has been made available. I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the campaign in my own ward and the thousands who signed our petition across the Borough. Now we need to see the Council work collaboratively with the ICB to get these surgeries built.”

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Councillor Dean Crofts said “This is a big win for our campaign. The local council has rightly now stepped up. with pressure from the Liberal Democrats, to help with primary care infrastructure our residents so desperately need. Our campaign continues, as we now ask the Government to ensure that BLMK ICB has enough revenue to make sure these new facilities become a reality. Our area has slipped into the top ten worst areas for patients per GP. It is absolutely vital that these projects come forward quickly and we can get the primary care that our residents need.”