MP 'hopeful' surgery build will start by Christmas

MP Patrick Spencer is hopeful Ipswich could have a new GP surgery by next Easter

A Suffolk MP said he remained hopeful work on a new surgery would get under way by Christmas, after residents criticised "ridiculous" waits for appointments.

The NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) wants to build a new GP practice in Ipswich for patients currently treated by the Cardinal Medical Practice in the town.

Ed Garratt, chief executive of the ICB, told the BBC in January that he wanted to see "spades in the ground" by start the of the festive season.

Patrick Spencer, Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said he understood that timeline for the construction of the surgery remained on track.

"We have identified a site on the intersection of Castle Hill and the Ipswich constituency border and we are still hopeful," he said.

"I haven't been given a reason to think that target is not attainable and it is still my hope that there will be expanded surgery capacity by Easter next year.

"It is a complex process to get there and but we have a target and we are going after it – if I had a magic wand, I'd wave it and a new surgery would pop up."

Cardinal Medical Practice patient, Pat, 80, said she often struggled to get an appointment

Residents in Castle Hill and Whitton were left aggrieved by the decision to no longer build a so-called "super surgery" at the former Tooks Bakery site in the town.

Cardinal Medical Practice patient, Pat, 80, said she hoped a new surgery would help alleviate the pressure on practices in the area.

"I am at the Deben Road surgery but you can't get through," she said.

"If you call up for appointments you're 48th in the queue - it's just ridiculous that you have to put up with it."

The surgery once planned for the former Tooks Bakery site would have become one of the largest in the Ipswich area

Speaking to BBC Suffolk, Mr Spencer apologised to constituents over the axing of plans for the £7.75m surgery at the former Tooks Bakery site.

"I am so sorry to the people who have been thrown from pillar to post, it's been chaotic," he said.

"The first thing I did after being elected was have a meeting with Ed Garratt and I said this is my number one issue – I am 100% focused on getting this done.

"I'm trying my absolute hardest every single day to make sure their frustration with this situation is heard by the people in the NHS."

'Deeply disappointed'

A joint statement by the ICB and Ipswich Borough Council, which was part-funding the axed surgery, previously said the project had "become unaffordable for the NHS, with costs having increased significantly over the past three years".

But a spokesperson for the ICB said "good progress" was now being made "on finding a solution for the practice and patients".

"We recognise the importance and urgency of this project, and know that local people have been waiting a long time to see change," they said.

"We are hopeful of being in a position to deliver an update soon."