'Without this surgery, people will die'

Residents say they are concerned they may lose their GP surgery if the local NHS care board does not commit to a new one.

The Tolsey Surgery in Sherston, Wiltshire, serves more than 3,000 patients, but is in an unsuitable older building.

The local parish council has agreed plans with a local developer to create a new one, but the NHS is yet to confirm it will support the project even though the lease on the current building runs out in 18 months.

The local integrated care board has said it is in conversation with the surgery, but that decisions around future investment "can only be made when the necessary funding becomes available".

Local MP Roz Savage, Liberal Democrat, has started a petition on the issue, and it has been signed by 500 people.

"In a village the size of Sherston, that's significant. The intention is to make the voices of Sherston heard in Westminster," she said.

She said poor rural public transport means it is "just not realistic" to expect the "least mobile" people, such as the elderly, to travel to the nearest surgery in Malmesbury.

"Without this surgery, people will die. I know that because I'm one of them" said resident Gerard Joynson.

Mr Joynson had a melanoma on his lung and it was removed quickly - but he does not think he would have been treated as quickly if he had not had the surgery in Sherston.

"Without this surgery, I would never have got there [the hospital] in time."

With 18 months to go before the lease runs out on the old building and no agreement over the new one, local people say they are worried.

Tanya Burgess, the chair of the parish council, explained it had already put together the plan for the new one, and just need approval from the NHS.

"It's really the hub of the village. It is already deemed not fit for service. We've got a plan to build one. We just need a commitment for them to rent it," she said.

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board said it has been in "constant dialogue" with Tolsey Surgery.

"Decisions around possible future investment in the local primary care estate can only be made when the necessary funding becomes available, and the anticipated work delivers benefits for all of the practices working within any given primary care network.

"Such decisions are kept under constant review, and we continue to listen and engage with the practice and its staff, and with interested parties from across the community in Sherston, around all aspects of local health provision."

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