AFTER more than a decade without any progress on health care facilities in Thornbury hopes are rising for a breakthrough.

Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb MP has accepted the invitation of Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb to visit the town next month.

The Lib Dem health minister will jointly chair a meeting in early February with Mr Webb which will bring together key figures from hospital trusts, the local council, local GPs and others with an interest in the Thornbury Hospital site.

The intention of the meeting is to identify the barriers to progress and to agree an action plan to finally bring much-needed new facilities to the town.

The goal includes modernised and expanded GP services to cater for the town’s growing population as well as more outpatient appointments on the site to save patients from having to travel to Southmead Hospital.

Discussions are also continuing about the use of the site for ‘community rehabilitation’ beds which will enable people to be discharged from large district hospitals if they no longer need acute hospital treatment.

Steve Webb said: “Thornbury is a growing town and we need more GP capacity and modern health facilities in the town. The discussions about the use of the hospital site have been going on for far too long and it is time for action.

“I hope that involving my colleague, the health minister Norman Lamb, will kick-start the process and help to identify a plan going forward”.

Thornbury councillor Maggie Tyrrell added: “The plan to bring together all the key players in a meeting chaired by two senior MPs is a big step forward. We all want to see modern healthcare facilities on the Thornbury Hospital site and it is time to agree a united plan for the way forward”.