Fearing impact on GP practices

A walk-in GP centre could undermine health care in Southwell according to town councillors.

Nottinghamshire Teaching Primary Care Trust has central government money to build the centre, which would be open 8am to 6pm, at either Newark, Hucknall or Mansfield and Ashfield.

Southwell Town Council was asked to comment as part of a public consultation.

Mr John Robinson thought the centre might undermine the viability of GP practices in the county.

“We have got a good relationship with our own GPs in our own practice, so I would suggest we should support them and say we don’t want it,” he said.

Mrs Beryl Prentice thought it could also pose a threat to services at Newark Hospital.

She said: “Newark Hospital offers a superb service and I think this could undermine that.”

Mr Peter Pay agreed the hospital offered a good service.

“The reports coming out from everybody are that standards at Newark Hospital are very high and their attention to patients’ needs are very high,” he said.

“Anything that could undermine our current structure of meeting health needs should be turned down.”

Mr Malcolm Rose suggested the town council support proposals to site the centre in the location furthest from Southwell so it had least impact.

The council agreed to form a working party to collate councillors’ comments and write a response to be approved by the council.