Thousands sign petition calling for second Melton GP surgery
Thousands of people have signed a petition urging the local health authority to reverse its decision not to immediately pursue setting up a second GP surgery in Melton Mowbray.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB) announced earlier this year that there was no evidence that Melton should be prioritised for investment in a new practice because there was only a 3.19 per cent rise in new patient registrations between 2020 and August 2025 at the town’s only surgery – Latham House Medical Practice.
This came after the ICB last year paused plans to progress proposals to convert Phoenix House, in Nottingham Road, into a second town surgery.
The Melton area’s four county councillors plus the borough council’s leader – who all represent parties across the political spectrum – joined forces in January at Leicestershire County Council’s latest health overview and scrutiny meeting to condemn the ICB’s report that there was no evidence for another practice to be set up.
And borough councillor Sharon Butcher is determined to keep the pressure up on the health authority by promoting a petition before delivering it to officials.
Councillor Butcher told the Melton Times that the pressure on local doctors’ resources was the dominant issue she was fielding comments about from residents.
She said: “It’s all about patient choice.
"When they said we didn’t need the second surgery and that Latham House was providing more appointments, well that’s not what the public are saying.
“Residents are saying they are having to wait six to eight weeks for appointments.”
Nearly 1,500 people have signed the online petition with about another 1,500 names being added in person to a paper version.
The health board have said they will look at the situation when more of thousands of new homes are built in the town but Councillor Butcher and her supporters feel they should not delay.
She added: “The increasing population is a genuine fear for people.
"They’re thinking ‘crikey, if I’m waiting six to eight weeks now, how many more weeks are we going to wait when there are more houses and more people?’.”
Go to www.change.org/p/we-need-extra-primary-care to view the petition and sign it if you want to.
it will be presented to the joint health scrutiny meeting at Leicester City Council on April 30.