Doctors want a better health centre for Knutsford (From Knutsford Guardian)

Doctors want a better health centre for Knutsford

10:00am Thursday 26th July 2012 in Letters

I COMMENT in a personal capacity on the article ‘Osborne hits out over town’s health services' .  I have been involved in planning groups over the past 18 months, investigating what can be done to improve services in Knutsford.
I was pleased to see that George Osborne was quoted as stating that he wants the best possible health services for Knutsford.
It is clear that NHS services cannot remain the same with development in treatments and our ageing population.
No change can be implemented without disruption of the existing services.
Knutsford already has traffic and parking problems, and there is no ideal site.
Bexton Road is only one of several sites being considered.
It has been stated that there are no insurmountable traffic and parking problems once a firm plan is put forward. 
The suggested way to get a new health centre for Knutsford is for a private developer to build a commercial building to contain NHS, social services and private providers, giving a more seamless service. Several developers have already expressed interest.
People are concerned that if the three practices merge they would not be able to see their own doctor.
However what is planned is not a super surgery but a health centre with additional facilities which cannot presently be provided in the Victorian premises now occupied by GPs and their essential back room staff.
One can pick on any of these factors – traffic congestion, parking, all three practices in one place – as reasons for not moving ahead, but if this health centre is not built we shall see a further decline in services.
I know that the doctors and health professionals who are now in charge want a better health centre for Knutsford.
PETER ROSE
Lynton Close,
Knutsford