Lib Dem MP Vikki Slade calls for a GP Guarantee on all new developments in Mid Dorset and North Poole as average surgery in Dorset serves 696 extra homes since 2015
No doctors, no development: Lib Dem MP Vikki Slade calls for a GP Guarantee on all new developments in Mid Dorset and North Poole as average surgery in Dorset serves 696 extra homes since 2015
- The Liberal Democrats have unveiled a new plan to ensure all developments come with new or expanded GP surgeries.
- The call comes as shocking analysis reveals that GP surgeries in Dorset serve an increase of an extra 17.82% of homes each since 2015.
Vikki Slade, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, is launching a campaign to guarantee GP investment on new developments. It comes as Lib Dem analysis shows that an eyewatering 1,300 surgeries have closed in a decade (between 2015 and 2025) across the country.
Vikki Slade MP wants new or expanded GP surgeries to be up and running in areas of new development as soon as the first homes are sold. This is part of the Liberal Democrats proposed infrastructure-first approach to development, and supports the ongoing campaign to rescue General Practice.
Vikki said, “I have been fortunate to spend time in GP surgeries in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole and have seen firsthand the exceptional work GPs are doing, under incredible pressure. It is clear however, that despite their best efforts, demand is rising to unsustainable levels as more houses are being built.”
Vikki has also been contacted by a number of constituents sharing their own experiences. She added, “Constituents in Merley, Bearwood and Wimborne have written to me about calling for an urgent appointment and finding themselves 20th or 30th in a queue, with only 10 callers processed in an hour of waiting. One constituent called on behalf of her husband and was told he would be unable to see a Nurse or Doctor for 10 days for a wound that needed attention. This is causing serious concerns in our communities.”
As part of the Liberal Democrats proposals, developers in Dorset would be required to not only fund new facilities but also to guarantee the GP surgery contract (or the cost of salaried GPs) while new residents are still moving in. This would ensure new residents don’t have to turn to already over-stretched existing GPs.
Sharing the viewpoint of GPs within the constituency Vikki said, “We are fortunate to have some excellent GPs in Mid Dorset and North Poole, but they can’t just keep accepting new patients. One surgery told me they are seriously considering closing their books to all new patients so they can maintain a good service to their existing community. Without urgent change we will see more GPs leave, leading to even longer waiting times that could cause real harm to patients.”
Dorset has already seen thousands of new homes, and the Government’s mandatory housing targets will force councils to accept many more. Liberal Democrat MP Vikki Slade said:
“In communities across the country and across Dorset, when new housing is built, GPs are promised but not delivered - this must end. We do need to build homes for local people but they cannot come without infrastructure in place before additional residents arrive. That isn’t fair to anyone and will lead to a loss of trust in the NHS. That’s why I’m launching a campaign to get our local NHS back on track, by building and delivering the services our communities require and ensuring new homes always go hand in hand with more GPs.”