Save Our Surgery

ARE YOU AWARE of the proposal to close the Wrington and Churchill GP Surgeres within 18 months?

YOU WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL to Langford to a larger surgery - increased cost, increased carbon footprint!

IT'S NOT TOO LATE to stop this

There are alternatives - for example, enlarging the existing surgeries

At present you can walk to the Wrington surgery, which is healthy and cuts down car use. But how would you get to Churchill, as it's too far to walk for most? By car - if you have a car; more cost, more CO².

By bus - infrequent service, plus a 15 minute walk from Budgens. By taxi - expensive. By Helpline or minibus - OK for occasional visits to hospital, but could not cope with regular frequent trips to the surgery.

Wrington would lose an important facility - the Wrington Surgery.

There would be a threat to the Wrington Pharmacy if people get their medicine at the new Churchill surgery. The Post Office and other shops may lose business as people would no longer be able to go to the Wrington surgery.

The proposed new surgery site at Pudding Pie Lane is a greenfield site outside the village fence and very close to the Churchill Primary School - traffic and children do not mix. A previous application for housing in this area two years ago was defeated by local residents.

Wrington is the major population centre in the practice catchment area.

Wrington patients have not been properly consulted on the proposal to close Wrington surgery.

Are there alternatives? - yes. The practice argues they need more services to remain viable, such as dietician, eye clinics, visiting midwives, etc, - all of which are welcome. However, the new services could be accommodated by expanding the existing surgeries at Wrington and Churchill. This possibility should be explored in depth; it would almost certainly cost less than 3 million pounds.

ACTION is NEEDED NOW - the practice is seeking final permission from the PCT in September 2009 and planning approval by November 2009.

If you want to keep Wrington surgery open, please write to or email the PCT chairman; and our District Councillor, and copy in our MP, Dr Liam Fox. click here for contact details