Letter from CCG: Village medical practice Crompton Health Centre

I refer to your letter dated 29 October, 2015 concerning the Village Medical Practice and the question of re-procurement at the end of the contract in September 2016.

I am writing on behalf of myself, my two Shaw Ward colleagues, Councillors Blyth and Sykes, and also my three Crompton Ward colleagues, Councillors Murphy, Turner and Williamson, as the Crompton Councillors appear not to have been consulted but have many constituents who utilise this service and would be similarly affected should re-procurement not take place leading to patient dispersal.

The Village Medical Practice, as well as the Oak Gables Partnership contained within Crompton Health Centre is a vital resource for the Shaw and Crompton community, providing easy town centre access to a medical practitioner.  Shaw and Crompton is one township, with a population of around 20,000 and the need for a medical facility that is easily accessible is a must.

If patients were to be dispersed, this would lead to difficulties in accessing suitable alternative GP services that are already under immense pressure, create unnecessary travel for some and great difficulty for others.  Needless to say, Shaw and Crompton Councillors wholeheartedly support the re-procurement of this service based in Shaw.

Shaw and Crompton Councillors have campaigned for a long time to increase the quality of provision and access to integrated medical care within Shaw and Crompton.

The CCG will be aware that we almost had a new integrated care centre built in Shaw Town Centre but finances were withdrawn and the scheme axed before the 2010 General Election by the then Primary Care Trust (PCT).

As a group of locally elected representatives we are very keen to see a new Integrated Care Centre for Shaw and Crompton and feel that the time is now right to look again at this proposal.

With the impending demolition of Crompton Pool, the relocation of Shaw Market and therefore the vast increase in available open land within the town centre, there can be no better time to reconsider a new build of an Integrated Care Centre which would benefit from ample parking and excellent access from far and wide created by the arrival of Metrolink into Shaw.

Also those using the current Crompton Health Centre need a building, facilities and access to services like most other citizens in Oldham Borough already have.

We are able to offer facilities in Shaw that are unequalled by any other district in the Borough and the benefit of easy access by road and tram can only be of benefit to the whole Borough of Oldham as well as increasing the prosperity of Shaw Centre in particular created by increased footfall and revenue.

Therefore, we need to ensure local provision for those currently provided for by the Village Medical Practice and hopefully you will give some very active consideration to providing all those who use Crompton Health Centre with the facility they have patiently waited for and justly deserve.

Yours sincerely

COUNCILLOR CHRIS GLOSTER