Collingham county councillor calls for GP practice in Coddington due to 'depleted' health services in surrounding areas

Health services branded depleted have led to calls for a village to have its own GP practice.

Independent county councillor Debbie Darby has written to health bosses at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) asking for a study into providing GP services in the growing village.

It comes after she was contacted by a number of residents complaining of being on waiting lists at surgeries in neighbouring villages.

And, with Coddington currently holding 650 houses with around 1,500 residents, Ms Darby — also a mother of six — thinks the village needs its own provision.

“If it’s not residents raising the state of our broken roads and pavements — it’s residents getting in touch with health concerns," said Ms Darby, independent county councillor for Collingham.

"Residents in places like Coddington, Newark and our neighbouring villages already suffer from depleted health services due to the Tory cuts to A&E and maternity services at Newark Hospital.

"The lack of doctors' surgeries, coupled with the massive GP waiting lists, is scandalous.”

Ms Darby, who is leading calls for a GP practice, said one village resident had been advised to present at A&E on two separate occasions.

The resident wrote: “I have had an ongoing problem trying to see a doctor since covid.

"I have twice been told to go to A&E. It appears most of the surgeries in Newark are the same.

"We desperately need more surgeries as they are all saying they have 15/20,000 people on their waiting lists.

"I live in Coddington, which has an old people’s home, old people's complex and a large estate with many children, yet we don't have a doctors.

"Please forward to the government to get us more doctors.”

In an email to health bosses, Ms Darby said: “What can you do as a clinical commissioning group, as the group responsible for GP provision, to help?

"What advice can we give to local residents? We have concerns about GP provision, specifically in rural locations like this and would like to see a feasibility study done into providing GP services in Coddington, Nottinghamshire?”

NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG associate director for primary care Joe Lunn said: “We always welcome the views of our residents and the councillors who represent them and we would be happy to meet with councillor Darby to discuss her concerns.

“We would like to remind residents that for any urgent care needs there is the Urgent Treatment Centre at Newark Hospital which is open from 9am to 10pm, with the last patients being admitted at 9.30pm.

“We understand residents’ concerns around an ageing population and we would like to reassure them that home visits from general practice teams are available for those who need them. We would also encourage residents to contact their GP practice when needed, as often they can get advice over the phone from their GP or wider experienced clinical team without the need for a face-to-face appointment.”

Are you struggling to see a doctor at a local surgery? Get in touch at a.hunt@newarkadvertiser.co.uk