The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Many of us still miss Dr Nathu at Pennygate Surgery. I always found her very caring and staff helpful.
I was very sad and disappointed when they moved the surgery to the hospital. I don’t think that was the right place.
I am sure the staff did their best but I suspect it was underfunded and understaffed.
We need something in the west end of Spalding. Monks House Lane on the site identified for a secondary school? Bourne Road/St John’s Circus area so more people can walk, go on their bikes, in their cars and not have to get over the dreaded railway line.
I still remember the pledge we were given by Hilary Daniels, the then chairman of the Primary Care Commissioning Committee, that they would work over the next two years from 2018 to talk with developers to identify a suitable site in the west of Spalding where the bulk of Dr Nathu’s patients lived.
That locality is also a major development area for South Holland.
When and if the Western Relief Road ever makes it through to Pode Hole, there will be even more homes and families looking for medical and wellbeing services nearby. So much for that pledge!
We can all remember the local papers with their headlines ‘Pledge to find GP premises on west side of Spalding’ and a report from Rebecca Neno, the then CCG deputy director of quality and nursing, says ‘the overall option in the long term would be to provide a GP practice on the west side of Spalding.’
So we didn’t get what we were promised from those people, some of whom are still working in the system.
I spoke to Sarah-Jane Mills on Monday who is leading the present ‘consultation’ and asked why should we believe what she now says? I got the impression she knew nothing of those pledges and commitments.
We were told the original move was for three years with a two-year extension. We know the last few years have been overtaken with COVID but they do not appear to have done anything.
Those in charge of conducting discussions need to understand that, because of the railway line, and the down time of the gates, we need the return of a surgery that side of the line.
We were lucky at the last public meeting we held that Marianne Garfoot from Brylaine was in the audience and she immediately said they would alter one of their services to include a stop at the hospital.
If we can make a case for the return of the surgery, we need to ensure that the InterTown bus calls directly.
I would strongly urge anybody who wants to see a doctors’ surgery/wellbeing hub in the west end, please attend one of the meetings and make your voice heard.
Feel free to email me your comments if you wish to anewton@sholland.gov.uk or text me on 07939 559764.
My fear is that if they have already indicated they want to move all Spalding GP surgery patients to one surgery and they will have to spend mega bucks to make one of the surgeries larger.
They will be spending money there which ought to be funding a new surgery for patients at the GP surgery, and all the new people who are and will be moving to St John’s Circus and all the new houses which are being built in the western end and all the way to Pode Hole.
Colleagues tell me it is as difficult to get appointments at the other local surgeries, and nigh on impossible to see a doctor as it has been for the last five years at the GP centre.
That said, I will be suggesting that we make representation that the different quangos which are responsible for provision of health services in South Lincolnshire do listen to the people this time.
If it is still the wish of the majority that they pursue their previous offer of a facility in the west side of Spalding and they start the ball rolling now and show us we can believe them this time.
Anybody unable to attend the meeting can send their observations in and send me a copy.
Coun Angela Newton
LCC councillor Spalding Monks House
