Consultation on relocation of GP services from Wilton Health Centre

During the Covid pandemic GP-led service at the centre have been provided at other locations including Fisherton House, Bemerton Heath Surgery and Bishopdown Surgery.

The plans outlined by Salisbury Medical Practice would make the changes permanent and would mean GP services would no longer be provided at Wilton Heath Centre.

However, it would still be used for other services including physiotherapy, dietetics, and stroke early supported discharge.

A letter posted on Salisbury Medical Practice's website by GP Partner Dr Martin Allen said: "As you will already be aware, GP-led services that were previously based out of Wilton Health Centre in Salisbury have, for the last 15 months, been provided at other nearby clinical locations.

"Services were initially relocated in March 2020 in order to provide other local NHS providers, including Wiltshire Health and Care, with additional space during the intense first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Since then, services have remained at nearby GP practices, including Fisherton House, Bemerton Heath Surgery and Bishopdown Surgery, with patients continuing to access the same care and treatment as before, but under a different roof.

"Following a successful first year, in which patients have found the new arrangements to be successful, plans are now under way to implement these changes on a permanent basis.

"This would mean that GP services would no longer be carried out at Wilton Health Centre, and the site would continue to be used by other NHS providers, offering services such as Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Stroke Early Supported Discharge and more.

"Patients would continue to receive their care and treatment from the other nearby GP practices mentioned previously.

"As a patient, we want to ensure you are kept in the loop with these proposals from the very beginning, and also make you aware that the plans will be put to a public consultation, during which time you will be able to have your say."

There are also plans to build additional clinical space at Bemerton Heath Surgery, which would not only provide extra rooms but also "improve accessibility".

The letter added: "In addition to the relocation of GP services from the Wilton Health Centre site, we will also be asking people to share their views on plans to construct additional clinical space at Bemerton Heath Surgery.

"This project would add extra rooms to the site, as well as improve accessibility, meaning teams would be able to do more for patients."

The consultation period has started and runs until July 21.

Patients, local residents and stakeholders can take part in the consultation online at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BYWM7K7. Paper copies are also available.

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