CAMPAIGNERS are protesting at the lack of progress over healthcare facilities at Thornbury Hospital after ‘breakthrough’ discussions took place six months ago.


Thornbury town councillors have been campaigning to make better use of the combined health centre and hospital site in Eastland Road to provide better community facilities.


Despite a meeting between the North Bristol NHS Trust, NHS South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), local GPs, Sirona Health Care, South West Commissioning Support Unit and NHS England on February 5 – described as a ‘breakthrough’ by host and former MP for Thornbury and Yate Steve Webb – the group is frustrated at the lack of progress on the site.


Councillors are arguing that the meeting promised real progress would be made by the summer, but there have been no signs of progress since.


Cllr Shirley Holloway said the lack of action on the new health facilities was more worrying than ever.


“New housing is going up rapidly and the NHS must decide how they are going to provide decent services in decent buildings now.”


“It is ridiculous that in an expanding town with an ageing population there is still no agreed plan in place.


“We are constantly told that plans are being worked on but we need to see action, not just yet more bits of paper.”


New facilities would include modern GP and primary care facilities with the capacity for the growing population of Thornbury, ‘extra care’ housing providing support to people who do not need to be in a care home, facilities for outpatient appointments to relieve the need of going to Southmead Hospital and rehabilitation beds.


Cllr Maggie Tyrrell said: “New houses now are going up rapidly, and Thornbury has been promised additional medical staff, including doctors, to cope with the ever-increasing demand. Where on earth are they going to work from?

"They cannot possibly squeeze into the present dilapidated building.”


During February’s meeting, all parties agreed that a plan should be drawn up to share before the summer.


The meeting also heard that a £250 million government fund had been made available for investment in new primary healthcare services and that a Thornbury scheme would be


MP for Thornbury and Yate Luke Hall, speaking in the House of Commons on July 14, said he would work to ensure that promised services were delivered at the hospital.


“I assure my constituents that I will work with all the relevant bodies to ensure that the services are delivered to Thornbury” he said.