Community Rallies to Save Sherston Surgery as Lease Expiry Looms

South Cotswolds MP Dr Roz Savage has joined forces with local Liberal Democrat Wiltshire Councillor Martin Smith and Sherston Parish Council Chair Tanya Burgess to launch a petition calling on the local NHS to commit to funding a new GP surgery in Sherston.

The Tolsey Surgery, which has been a vital part of the community for decades, is facing closure when its lease expires in November 2027. While property developers have proposed building a new surgery as part of their plans, the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has so far refused to commit any funding to support running a new surgery in Sherston.

If the ICB fails to act, residents could be left without a local GP and would need to travel to the nearby towns of Malmesbury, Tetbury or Chippenham to access basic healthcare services.  

Roz spoke in a parliamentary debate on GP funding in the South West on Wednesday 25 June when she highlighted the issue of the Sherston Surgery. In the debate, Roz stated that residents live in ‘growing uncertainty’ due to ‘a fundamental lack of understanding of rural life in our national decision-making'.  This comment was made in response to the negative answer she received to her question to the Department of Health and Social Care in May about funding for Sherston surgery. 

Roz has been running a petition from her website and will present it to the Speaker in the House of Commons Chamber, asking the Department of Health and Social Care to allocate funds to run a new surgery in Sherston.    

Roz said:  "The current uncertain position is not fair to the people of Sherston and its nearby villages. It’s unreasonable to expect residents, especially older people, young families, and those without transport, to travel miles just to see their GP.  

I’ve launched this petition with local leaders to demonstrate the strength of feeling in the community and to put pressure on the ICB to do the right thing. Once we’ve gathered a large number of signatures, I will present the petition in the House of Commons so the Government will not be able to ignore this issue."  

Cllr Martin Smith echoed the concern, saying:  “I took over this long-running challenge to get a new surgery for Sherston when I was first elected 4 years ago.  We avoided a proposed merger with the Malmesbury surgery 18 months ago, but despite countless meetings and warm words from the ICB, we have made very little progress in getting a new facility. The Government strategy is to deliver more services via GPs, so it’s incredibly frustrating that the ICB are not aligned with that.” 

Tanya Burgess, Chair of Sherston Parish Council, added:  “This situation is becoming critical now for the 3,000+ patients of the Tolsey Surgery. Despite our best efforts in the last 18 months, we continue to be stonewalled by the ICB in committing to supporting a purpose-built surgery in Sherston with one excuse after another. The NHS themselves declared the building unfit for purpose some years ago. It’s reasonable to ask what their plans are to provide continuity for patients from Sherston and the surrounding area. As far we can see they don’t appear to have any. 

We have the patients, we have the GPs, we have the offer of a purpose-built surgery so there would be no capital spend for the NHS. Why is the ICB not supporting us?”  

Residents of Sherston and nearby villages are encouraged to add their names to the petition, which can be found at www.rozsavage.uk under the ‘Campaigning’ section, titled Save Sherston Surgery. There are also hard copies of the petition for people to sign the Co-operative in Sherston and in the Tolsey Surgery. 

ENDS  

Notes to editor:  

The campaign petition: https://www.rozsavage.uk/campaigns/sherston-surgery