THERE is only one chance left to get GP provision right in parts of South Gloucestershire, a councillor has claimed.

The blunt message from Cllr Trevor Jones claims that NHS England had repeatedly broken its promises to hear residents’ concerns and missed opportunities to provide new surgeries in Charlton Hayes and Harry Stoke.

The national body said sustainability issues in primary care mean smaller GP practices are less viable so they are joining forces as ‘clusters’, and the likes of Bradley Stoke surgery are expanding their boundaries.

But Cllr Jones said: “They [Bradley Stoke surgery] are struggling to meet their patient population’s needs now, so how could they possibly cope with the much increased numbers of patients to come?

“This area is the last chance to get GP provision in the North Fringe right.

“I was frankly appalled to hear that the NHS has apparently determined that all future needs in the area can be met by a further expansion of the Stoke Gifford practice.”

Cllr Jones was told the expansion could be achieved by purchasing land next to the existing surgery but said it would appear impossible for the area ‘blighted’ by parking problems to provide any more parking spaces.

He added: “Not only was I informed that NHS England had allowed their option to lapse on a plot of land on the Charlton Hayes development but had also decided that they didn’t need to request that land be reserved in the proposed local Centre within the land east of Harry Stoke development – right next to the Metrobus route!”

A spokesman for NHS England said: “The changing nature of primary care and the sustainability issues associated with it mean that smaller GP practices become less viable, so practices are working in GP clusters where work can be done across wider areas.

“The focus is now on extending existing facilities and also extending the wider primary care workforce e.g. mental health nurses, paramedics, clinical pharmacists.

“NHS England’s General Practice Forward View and Five Year Forward View describe how practices working together as clusters can better ensure the recruitment and retention of skilled workforce.

“In working together as clusters, practices can remain sustainable for the longer term which will ultimately benefit the continuity of care for patients.”

The spokesman confirmed that NHS England had allowed its option to lapse in Charlton Hayes because the plan was superseded by the extension of the Concord Medical Practice in Little Stoke.

Cllr Jones said NHS England had repeatedly reneged on promises to meet and discuss his concerns but the spokesman said representatives had attended stakeholder and resident meetings when Charlton Hayes was being marketed.

South Gloucestershire Council’s core strategy says new residential neighbourhoods should provide for a wide range of new facilities.

It specifies that the land east of Harry Stoke will be a ‘major focus for development’ and will deliver a multi-use building comprising a doctors’ surgery, library, community meeting space, and children’s and youth facilities.

The NHS England spokesman said: “The council did have a plan for a small GP branch at the site when this was originally consulted on with the NHS in 2012.

“Since then, the trend is for practices to work together as GP clusters.

“NHS England and the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire clinical commissioning group maintain close working with the council.”