Second Melton GP surgery could be part of new health and leisure park

Plans are being drawn up to create a health and leisure park in Melton which could include a second GP surgery for the town.
Latest medical news EMN-210202-132731001Latest medical news EMN-210202-132731001
Latest medical news EMN-210202-132731001

Senior representatives of Melton Borough Council and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups (LLRCCG) are looking into the feasibility of the scheme.

Consultants will be engaged to work with both the council, the CCG and other stakeholders to consider the various options and possible sources of funding.

Any new surgery would supplement the existing services currently offered to town residents by doctors and nurses at Latham House Medical Practice, in Sage Cross Street.

Councillor Joe Orson. the borough council’s leader, said this afternoon (Monday): “The council has made securing a second GP surgery a key priority within its corporate strategy.

“We know alongside the growth in housing, people want infrastructure to support them and patients want more choice.

“This is something the council is keen to secure.

“It is clearly early days, but we are working closely with our CCG partners to explore the options and I am thrilled that we are seeing how we could align both our primary health and leisure facilities into a single locality to offer a comprehensive wellbeing offer to our communities.

“There is still much more work to be done but exploring the opportunity is very exciting for Melton.”

The LLRCCG confirmed the proposals were being looked into, with chief executive, Andy Williams, commenting: “I am really pleased to be working in partnership with the council and other partners to develop a plan for Melton.

“It’s a great opportunity to develop local services as the population grows and changes in the years ahead.”

The idea is also being backed by Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, who said: “There is absolutely no question that Melton needs a second GP surgery.

“It is wrong that in the next 10 years 45,000 people will otherwise be served by just one surgery which is already one of the most over-subscribed in the entire country.

“The people of Melton deserve better.

“That’s why I’ve been working with Melton Borough Council and our CCG to deliver on my election promise to secure a new surgery.

“Now, more than ever, we deserve certainty of access to swift and exceptional healthcare, and a new surgery will undoubtedly improve the health of our communities.

“The Prime Minister has giving his backing to a new GP practice and I’m very grateful to Melton Borough Council and the CCG who are working hard to make this a reality for the people of Melton.”

Thousands of extra houses are due to be built in the town over the next 20 years with the Melton Local Plan establishing a strategy for this development to secure growth and prosperity in the borough.

Underpinning this, the recently-adopted corporate strategy outlined the commitment to campaign for a second GP surgery in Melton, as well as looking to develop proposals for a sustainable future for leisure provision and services.

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