Wixams Residents May Wait 10 More Years for GP Surgery

It has come to light that residents of Wixams, a new town established in 2009 near Bedford with 3,000 homes, could face a wait of up to an additional 10 years for a GP surgery, which it currently lacks. A report presented to Central Bedfordshire Council on Monday indicated that although over £5.5 million in funding was pledged for the proposed new surgery, its opening might be delayed by as much as 10 years. An NHS spokesperson affirmed that the organization’s objective remains the establishment of a “permanent healthcare facility.” Currently, Wixams residents must travel to GP practices located in Bedford, Ampthill, Wootton, and Great Denham to receive medical attention. Barbara Matthews, who chairs the Surgery Action Group in Wixams, stated that the group was formed in 2023 following the withdrawal of funding for a new GP practice by local NHS commissioners. She conveyed that a further 10-year wait is “not acceptable” for residents who “really need a surgery in Wixams right now.” Conversations are currently taking place among local NHS commissioners, Bedford Borough Council, and Central Bedfordshire Council regarding methods to accelerate the construction of the surgery. The promised £5.5 million is expected to be S106 money, a type of funding commonly contributed by housing developers to local communities. A spokesperson for the NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board commented: “We understand the concerns from residents that Wixams does not have a GP surgery and that they currently have to travel to neighbouring areas to access primary care services.“We are working hard to improve access to existing primary care provision, through greater use of the Pharmacy First scheme, new professional roles in primary care, and better telephone services.” The spokesperson also stated that the capital funding designated for the surgery was “not available to us” in the absence of the S106 money. Central Bedfordshire Council confirmed its close collaboration with the NHS and Bedford Borough Council.