PATIENTS had the chance to find out more about Westbury’s new Primary Care Development at an open day on Wednesday 26th May.
The Primary Care Development (PCD) will include an extended modern GP surgery which combines the Eastleigh Surgery and the White Horse Surgery with a range of other health care services, all under one roof. Visitors were able to inspect plans and artist’s impressions of the new site, which will be located in Leigh Park. The architect, travel planners, GPs, and representatives from NHS Wiltshire were among those present to answer queries and take in comments from members of the public.
Debbie Riddiford, practice manager at Eastleigh Surgery said, “We’ve had a lot of people come in to look at the plans and give their comments, and the comments have been very useful. It’s been largely very positive feedback, with some useful ideas about what to do about issues like transport.”
Visitors were invited to fill in a feedback form on the day, which can be returned to Eastleigh surgery. Forms are still available from the surgery for those who were not able to attend the open day.
It is expected that the planning application for the new PCD will be submitted this week. The development will bring new facilities to Westbury and give the practice the space it desperately needs. However, concerns have been raised over the distance of the site from the town centre, and the transportation issues that arise as a result.
Matthew Grist, the transport consultant for the new PCD said, “We are aware that transport is a key issue, and people can be assured that we are doing our very best to address the issue.” He added that talks are underway with the council regarding public transport, and that community transport will be a vital part in helping people get to the new surgery.
Transport concerns will be addressed at the next meeting of the Westbury Area Board on Thursday 17th June, where travel to the surgery will be addressed.
Transport in the community was also the main subject at the Westbury Community Area Partnership (BA13+ Partnership) meeting on Wednesday 2nd June, where a sub committee was set up to look into travel plans in the area, including those to help people get to the new PCD.
