The Member of Parliament for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, has initiated a campaign to establish a new NHS health centre in Twerton, Bath. The proposed centre would operate for twelve hours daily, six days a week, aiming to alleviate pressure on local health services.
Ms. Hobhouse emphasizes that the new facility could “rescue local health services, reduce GP waiting times, and provide high-quality care to the Twerton community.”
The centre plans to integrate doctors, pharmacists, nurses, occupational therapists, and outpatient rehabilitation services under one roof, streamlining access to comprehensive healthcare.
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“This is a once-in-a-generation chance to secure a modern neighbourhood health centre for our community,” said the Liberal Democrat MP. “With the NHS encouraging bids nationwide, we must seize this opportunity to address years of Conservative neglect.”
Twerton, one of Bath’s most deprived areas, has experienced significant challenges in healthcare access. The local population struggles with long waits for GP appointments; regularly, patients face delays of several weeks to have concerning symptoms assessed. Ms. Hobhouse added, “Our GPs and NHS staff are stretched to breaking point.”
The campaign seeks to provide healthcare professionals with the resources they need to offer timely and improved care, aiming to eliminate the overcrowding and early morning rush for appointments.
Data highlights a sharp rise in delayed GP appointments across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire — an 89% increase in waits over 28 days in the past five years. Since January, over 321,000 GP appointments in the region have been delayed beyond 28 days, nearly doubling figures from five years ago.
Census data reveals that Twerton residents face higher levels of deprivation and poorer health outcomes compared to national averages. Approximately 64.6% of households experience some form of deprivation versus 51.6% nationally. Only 43% of residents report being in “very good health,” compared with 48.5% across England. Furthermore, nearly one in four people in Twerton (24.5%) are classified as disabled, significantly higher than the 17.3% national figure.
Local Liberal Democrat councillors Tim Ball and Sarah Moore expressed strong support: “These proposals for localized health centres promise real benefits for Twerton and Whiteway communities, who often encounter difficulties accessing main healthcare services.”
Residents are invited to support the campaign by signing the online petition to help bring the new health centre to Twerton.