The petition of residents of the United Kingdom
Declares that a new GP surgery is needed in Cheltenham, as local surgeries have warned that GPs are under strain, working long hours with no breaks, and some residents struggle to secure timely appointments, and to accommodate the growth of the town.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the needs of a new GP surgery in Cheltenham when allocating resources for health services.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Max Wilkinson, Official Report, 21 May 2025; Vol. 767, c. 1138.]
[P003074]
Observations by the Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock):
The Government believe integrated care boards are best placed to understand the needs of their local population, and to make decisions on new general practice surgeries based on those needs. ICBs’ annual commissioning plans must consider requirements for new practices, including those driven by population growth, contract expiries, or unplanned closures.
These include:
Development of a new primary care facility in Central Cheltenham to co-locate the Overton Park and Yorkleigh GP practices into a new facility. This is subject to a specific business case that represents value for money being presented, there being a suitable site, and planning permission being obtained for any proposal.
NHS Gloucestershire ICB is seeking to develop a specific primary and community health facility for around 5,000 patients on a part of the site for the new housing developments in west Cheltenham. This is subject to suitable section 106 contributions.
NHS Gloucestershire ICB is seeking to develop to develop a specific primary, dental and community health facility for around 9,000 patients on the Elms Park West housing development in the north-west of Cheltenham. This is subject to suitable section 106 contributions.