GPs from one of the oldest health centres in Nottinghamshire have called for residents to back a bid to expand it with a new facility.
Doctors from the Village Health Group practice in East Leake have joined Rushcliffe MP, Ruth Edwards, in calling for the bid in the centre of the village, which has been expanding with new homes in recent years.
Since launching the campaign, Ruth has been encouraging residents from East Leake and surrounding villages to help demonstrate the strength of feeling as she makes the case for government funding.
So far over 24% of households in the village have registered their support.
Due to the current condition of East Leake Health Centre, which is one of the oldest health centres in Nottinghamshire, the services offered to patients are "limited".
The campaign for a new Health and Community Hub aims to provide a space that can house a range of services in modern facilities under one roof, including things like a physiotherapist, a pharmacist, and even social services such as a library.
GP Dr Neil Fraser said: “A new Health Centre would give us the ability to provide a far wider range of services and higher quality of service to our patients.”
GP Dr Nicholas Milhavy added: “I think the overall consensus is that it is pretty crucial to have adequate facilities for an expanding population in East Leake.
"We’ve got a very exciting opportunity ahead of us and if we have the potential to have a building which is adequate for resource and adequate for what we want to offer then we feel that the service which our patients get will improve.”
The campaign follows from an election commitment from Ruth, that she would campaign for new investment into villages, such as East Leake, where funding was needed to help support local primary care services.
The MP said: “We all know the desperate need for a new Health and Community Hub in East Leake, it has one of the oldest health centres in Nottinghamshire and it is about time the village gets the investment it deserves.
“It is important that we do not leave this to chance, I can only make the case to government if the public help demonstrate the village’s strength of feeling on this issue.
"I encourage as many people to join their neighbours by going to my website and back our bid for a new Health and Community Hub. It only takes a few seconds and the benefit will be felt for years to come”.
