Tomorrow's Health: Tewkesbury - What we've heard so far.

11/01/06

What do people expect from your local health services? Are they happy with their local arrangements or do they think that things could be improved? These are the questions Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Primary Care Trust (PCT) has been asking local people in Tewkesbury over the past few months in order to help them to develop services which meet the needs of Tewkesbury's growing population?

Highlights from the responses so far include:

• Leaving services unchanged is not an option
• GP surgeries relocated to separate sites around Tewkesbury could allow patients easier access to services.
• Good parking and easy access are essential.
• The Community Hospital could extend the services it offers
• Bringing three GPs together and offering other health services on the same site could have advantages
• In the event of the GP surgeries being combined, provision of "satellite services" is essential. Examples given for locating satellite services include Priors Park and Northway
• A combined health site could enable extended nurse-led services such as treating minor ailments, blood tests, etc and also provide accommodation for pharmacist service

The PCT is currently drawing together the information it has gathered to date ready for a meeting at the end of January (24 January 2006 - 2 - 4.30 - Parish Hall, Tewkesbury Abbey, Church Street, Tewkesbury), at which priorities will be agreed and options for consultation will be developed for consideration by the PCT's Board later this spring.

Tomorrow's Health: Tewkesbury is an initiative launched by the PCT at the end of September 2005 looking at ways to develop and expand services in Tewkesbury to meet the changing needs of the local population. Paul Edwards, PCT Director of Clinical Provision and Chair of the Tomorrow's Health: Tewkesbury Steering Group, said "Our aim is to ensure that Tewkesbury has a robust health service, which will be able to cope with the expected growth of Tewkesbury over the next 15 - 20 years."

Paul Edwards, continued: "Everyone is welcome to come along on 24th to hear about what we have learned and to help us decide about next steps."

Dr Stuart Hutchison, GP from Jesmond House Practice and a Member of the Steering Group, said "The three GP surgeries in Tewkesbury are working with more patients than ever. We have all looked at ways in which we can expand our services, but are now limited by the buildings and locations in which we are operating".

With the population of Tewkesbury set to rise by a further 20,000 by 2021, significant changes are required to ensure that all residents will have access to the health services they will need. The PCT also recognises that Tewkesbury Hospital has the capacity to extend the services it offers and is taking this opportunity to look at ways to develop the hospital. "This is an exciting opportunity for Tewkesbury Hospital" says Paul Sinnott, Treasurer of Tewkesbury Hospital League of Friends. "It would be great for Tewkesbury residents to have an extended range of facilities on their doorstep. I am working with the PCT as part of the Steering Group to oversee this initiative."

A consultation period focussing on the agreed proposals for Tewkesbury is planned for later this year.