A long-term solution for healthcare in Wixams has come a step closer, after Bedford Borough Council bosses met with residents, Central Bedfordshire Council, NHS representatives and MP Alistair Strathern.
The summit saw each organisation share updates on the work to establish a GP surgery, and agree the next steps.
Councillor Martin Towler, Portfolio Holder for Health, Public Health and Wellbeing, was at the meeting alongside Council Chief Executive Laura Church and fellow councillor Graeme Coombes.
He said; “There is now a commitment to ensure that we get a GP surgery for the town, as soon as we practically can. The Council have been working on this for some years, and I’m determined to push to through.
“Now we’ve now got a plan, and we’ve got everybody on board, it has to happen.”
Councillor Graeme Coombes, who is one of the team of three councillors representing Wixams alongside Councillor Andrea Spice and Councillor Marc Frost, added; “I know that this has to happen – I am one of the Wixams residents affected by the lack of a GP surgery. For me, it’s a 14-mile round trip to the nearest doctor. For other people who don’t have a car, it’s a five or six-hour bus journey. It’s not been good enough.
“We’ve had plenty of meetings where individual organisations have met with each other, but we really felt the benefit of having everyone sitting around a table together, as organised by Mid Bedfordshire MP Alistair Strathern.”