Roz Savage MP Challenges Government and NHS on Sherston Surgery

Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, Dr Roz Savage, presses Government and local NHS for clarity on the future of Sherston Surgery 

Dr Roz Savage MP has challenged both the Government and the local NHS over their continued lack of clarity about the future of Sherston Surgery. 

On Tuesday, Roz responded to what she described as the Government’s “wishy-washy” reply to her public petition on the surgery’s future by writing to the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, asking for an urgent update and a clear timeline for when a decision will be made on whether Sherston will retain a GP surgery. 

The Government’s response makes clear that responsibility for any decision sits with the local Integrated Care Board. Roz has met the ICB multiple times since becoming the MP for the South Cotswolds, yet key questions remain unanswered. 

Roz said: 

“I am extremely disappointed with the Government’s response. The petition attracted 1,695 signatures from Sherston residents and neighbouring villages, which shows just how important this issue is for the community. With less than two years remaining on the current surgery building’s lease, people are rightly worried about what comes next. 

“If the ICB does not commit to keeping a GP surgery in Sherston, there will be significant consequences for neighbouring NHS services in Malmesbury. They would be expected to absorb an additional 3,500 patients, which they simply cannot do. This is made worse by the poor public transport links between Sherston and Malmesbury, Tetbury and Chippenham, which already limit access to healthcare. 

“I have now written to the ICB urging them to provide both me and the local community with an update, and to set out a clear decision-making timeline. This is what residents are calling for, and I will continue to campaign alongside them on this important issue.” 

Martin Smith, Wiltshire Councillor for Sherston said: 

"The Government response is very disappointing. They make no reference to their national strategy of providing more healthcare closer to home, which is what we are trying to preserve in Sherston. I can't quite believe it, but I've been working with the GPs, the Parish Council, Wiltshire Council and the ICB for 5 years now trying to get a new GP surgery in Sherston. We are now fast approaching the end of the lease on the existing premises. We need urgent action now from the ICB, before its too late." 

Tanya Burgess, Chair of Sherston Parish Council added: 

“The Tolsey Surgery in Sherston was deemed ‘not fit for purpose’ many years ago by the governing body at the time.  There was no plan then to address the situation and it seems now that the surgery is threatened with closure there still is no plan! 

We continue to raise concerns about the future of primary care provision for our community. With more than 3,500 patients currently registered at the practice, the decision highlights a worrying lack of planning and strategic foresight by the Integrated Care Board (ICB). Despite repeated assurances of joined-up thinking across local health services, no credible plan has been presented for how these patients will continue to access timely and safe GP care. 

The ICB has already confirmed that the Primary Care Centre in Malmesbury is unable to absorb the additional capacity required to support patients from Sherston. Yet no alternative solution has been offered. This leaves thousands of residents—many of them elderly, families with young children, and individuals with long-term conditions—without clarity on where or how they will receive essential healthcare. 

Beyond the immediate logistical issues, the loss of a local surgery has wider implications. It risks increasing pressure on already overstretched neighbouring practices, worsening appointment availability across the region. It also undermines the principle of accessible, community-based healthcare—one of the core pillars of our NHS. Without a clear strategy from the ICB for maintaining primary care coverage in Sherston, this closure represents not just a local inconvenience but a significant failure of long-term planning. 

The community deserves answers. What is the plan for ensuring continuity of care for over 3,500 patients? How will the ICB guarantee safe staffing levels at neighbouring practices? What steps are being taken to mitigate the transport barriers faced by residents? And crucially, how will the ICB ensure that Sherston is not left without accessible, high-quality primary care? 

Until these questions are addressed with transparency and urgency, the closure of Sherston Surgery remains unacceptable and deeply concerning.” 

Residents can stay updated on Roz’s work in the South Cotswolds and in Parliament by visiting www.rozsavage.uk. 

ENDS