NHS needs to '˜get off its backside' in GP surgery delay, councillor says

Dr James Walsh had a meeting recently with NHS England at Horley in his capacity as vice-chairman of the council’s Health and Adult Social Care select committee.

He raised the question of the ‘unwillingness or tardiness of NHS Property to take responsibility and sign the head lease’ on the Morrison’s site for the new Wick and north Littlehampton GP surgery.

This is what is currently holding up progress, as time runs out on the allocated money for the project.

He said NHS England agreed to investigate and report back: “It is high time that NHS Property got off its backside and signed this lease, and enabled this vital new GP facility to be opened.

“Red tape and bureaucracy are obstructing progress, and I seriously question whether NHS Property are actually fit for purpose!”

A spokesman for NHS Property Services said: “We were only recently asked to help with this project and are gathering information from our NHS partners. We will continue to work with them to progress this as swiftly as possible.”.

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