Good news for the NHS in Frome!

Written by David Heath MP and published in Somerset Standard on Fri 27th Nov 2009

I'm paying another visit to the new Frome Community Hospital on Thursday, in the company of my colleague and party leader Nick Clegg. Frankly, I'm showing off the results of what so many people in Frome and hereabouts campaigned so hard for over many years, but I'm also hoping that it will serve as a model for hospital provision elsewhere.

I'm particularly pleased to hear that two of the outstanding issues relating to the hospital may now be on the way to being solved. Firstly, the hours during which treatment can be given for minor injuries is going to be extended; this was an annoyance to people who found that they had to trek off to Bath rather than visiting the brand new hospital in the evening, and I took it up with the chief executive of the Somerset PCT when the hospital was opened. I'm very glad he listened, and now hours are to be extended as from January.

Secondly, after a lot of preparatory effort, the Park Road GPs practice are publishing plans for a new surgery. I hope this will be possible next to the hospital, subject to any planning problems, which is what was anticipated in the first place but cut out for budgetary reasons. Providing a one-stop shop for treatment in purpose-built facilities, and as far as possible avoiding people having to go to the Royal United, has to be the right sort of provision for a place like Frome.