A community leader has urged residents to make their voices heard and shout out for their GP services as health bosses outline plans to amalgamate and move them.
Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), is proposing to bring together the Falkland Surgery in Bradwell and the Family Health and Gorleston Medical Centre onto one site due to 'major estates issues' and in preparation for the rising population.
The CCG have announced they are looking to relocate the services to one of three sites; the James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston's Beacon Park or the Shrublands Medical Centre.
They have said they want to hear all residents views and Gorleston county councillor Colleen Walker is now urging all those affected to speak up and have their say.
When the proposals were first hinted at earlier this year there was widespread outcry about the possibility of services going to James Paget Hospital, amid concerns over transport and parking fees.
Cllr Walker thought the proposals were 'outrageous' and said some people, including the elderly and infirm, could really struggle to get to the hospital.
'If they care about us, leave us where we are,' she added. 'What do we want to do? Tie up paramedics to ferry people about [who can't get to the hospital]? They have taken it further away with the suggestion of Beacon Park, it's difficult enough to get to the Paget.'
Cllr Walker is now urging all residents to speak up and have their say in the consultation, which launched today and runs until September.
Andy Evans, chief executive of the CCG, said: 'We cant stay as we are because the old surgeries won't be fit for use.
'We put a substantial weight on the public opinion so we will take their views into account.'
He didn't know the full cost of the relocation, but the CCG estimate around £5m-6m.
'This is not about saving money, it's about finding new premises,' Mr Evans said.
Public meetings will be held atShrublands Youth and Adult Centre in Magdalen Way on June 24 (2pm-3.30pm) and July 8 (5pm-6.30pm).
• To have your say in the consultation, fill in a questionnaire here or write to Freepost RSUL-UGLK-JJRA, GP services in Gorleston, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney CCG, Beccles House, 1 Common Lane North, Beccles, NR34 9BN.
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