A PETITION calling for improved health services in Thornbury has been presented a local health authority

Signed by about 1,000 local people, the petition was presented to South Gloucestershire CCG Clinical Commissioning Group following years of frustration and broken promises for better facilities in the town.

The signatures, gathered by Cllrs Shirley Holloway and Maggie Tyrrell, were received by the CCG’s clinical chairman Dr Jon Hayes.

The strain on Southmead Hospital this winter has boosted the campaign to offer better services in Thornbury - which were first recommended in 2004.

The meeting of members of South Gloucestershire CCG on Wednesday, March 25 was attended by the councillors.

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell reiterated the need for rehabilitation beds to ease the pressures at Southmead, and said that this was the time for the CCG to fulfil its commitment for beds in Thornbury and extra out-patient departments.

“We have also been promised a new nursing home and an extra care home,” she said. “The time is right and the need is clear.”

Cllr Shirley Holloway stressed that the present health centre is inadequate and that, particularly with the prospect of many new homes in the town the problem would be exacerbated.

She said: “No one can deny the quality of services we receive, but the facilities are outdated. Thornbury deserves, and needs, better.”

We remain committed to providing new inpatient rehabilitation beds at Thornbury, as part of our wider plans to develop and improve community rehabilitation services across South Gloucestershire.

In a statement the CCG said: "We are clear that any redevelopment in order to provide the rehabilitation beds and other services must be done in tandem with a replacement for the existing cramped and outdated health centre. NHS England is the lead commissioner for local primary services and we are therefore working closely with them and with the two local GP practices that are based at the health centre to align our plans.

"During March we took an important step forward with the selection of providers for our redesigned rehabilitation services. We will now be able to work with these providers over the next 12 months to develop the detailed plans for the redesigned rehabilitation service, including the new premises and facilities required at Thornbury."
 

The petition was handed over before the meeting held on Wednesday, March 25.