West Bridgford Mega - Surgery: Patients Demand that GPs and PCT Think Again

The proposal by 5 GP surgeries* in West Bridgford to relocate to a single new building on Wilford Lane costing over £9 million has alarmed many of the 28,000 patients affected. Although offering a range of facilities under one roof and longer opening hours, the proposed site lies on the periphery of the town and is awkward to reach by all forms of transport. Wilford Lane already has high traffic volumesand no direct bus connection with most of the residential areas of West Bridgford, Wilford Hill, Gamston, Edwalton and Lady Bay that the proposed surgery will serve On March 22nd the Notts Primary Care Trust (PCT) Board approved in principle the clinical and "business" case for the proposal. However the Board decided that there had not been enough investigation of and information provided about the transport and environmental impacts of the chosen site and in particular the travel arrangements for disadvantaged groups, notably the elderly and those with chronic conditions. This petition calls on the GPs and the PCT to think again. Two surveys conducted, including the public consultation, show that there is widespread patient concern about accessing the site and the additional car/taxi journeys that it will generate (at present 23% walk or cycle to local surgeries). We call upon the PCT / GPs to bring forward other options enabling smaller, more central sites to be used. At least 2 of the surgeries involved, Compton Acres and Trent Bridge, appear to meet new standards and could remain in their current locations. If the remaining 3 surgeries require upgrading, then a fresh site search should take place in central West Bridgford - eg the ambulance station may be ripe for redevelopment. If you agree with the campaign against the Wilford Lane site and the approach outlined in the last paragraph, please sign the petition below. * The GP surgeries involved are: Ludlow Hill Surgery, Compton Acres Medical Centre, Southview Surgery, Trent Bridge Medical Practice and Musters Medical Practice