South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton has called on the Department for Health and Social Care to provide much-needed support for a new, purpose-built GP surgery in Chickerell, to ensure local patients can access appointments and essential healthcare on their doorstep.
Residents have been without a GP service in the town since 2019 and plans to build a new surgery have been delayed over the years.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hatton highlighted that many of his constituents living in Chickerell are currently unable to easily access GP services. Instead, they are forced to travel to Lanehouse, Wyke Regis or Weymouth town centre to access GP services.
While NHS Dorset has previously committed to building a new GP surgery in the town, the proposals have been held back by significant delays, meaning many patients across Chickerell are unable to access a local GP surgery with ease.
In the House of Commons, Mr Hatton said: “Patients in Chickerell often struggle to access GP services in their area, and instead they must travel long distances. Some years ago, it was confirmed that a new GP surgery should be built in Chickerell. However, significant delays means that we are still waiting for that surgery.
“So, will the Minister work with the NHS locally and myself to finally deliver a new GP surgery in Chickerell?”
In response, the Minister welcomed the opportunity to meet with Mr Hatton to discuss how to accelerate the project.
Commenting on the meeting, Lloyd Hatton MP said: “I am pleased that the Minister has agreed to meet with me to discuss the future of GP services in Chickerell.
“For too long, patients have been asked to travel further and further up the road for an appointment. It is high time we delivered the new GP surgery that Chickerell was promised. I will keep up the pressure until new GP services are open and serving our community.”
Chickerell lost its surgery when the Abbotsbury Road practice of which it was part of closed in 2019.
A satellite surgery was opened at Chickerell as part of the Wyke & Lanehouse practice however its operation was affected by the pandemic and there are calls for the service to be improved.
In 2022 discussions had been progressing on providing a new centre in Chickerell, but they stalled.
Plans were in the pipeline to provide the area with a new purpose-built surgery/health centre with sufficient medical staff to serve the population.
But Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group said that due to a lack of GPs and financial commitments in meeting the cost of a new centre post-pandemic, the centre has never materialised.