As tonight (Friday) and tomorrow see residents invited to public meetings to share their views on the proposed relocation of Wootton Bridge Medical Centre, News OnTheWight hears from residents who will be impacted by the closure.
‘Sub-standard’ building
Based in the heart of Wootton, the Medical Centre is easily accessible by foot, bike, car and bus. Although it is a relatively new building, following years of issues with the ‘sub-standard’ building, it was revealed in the summer of 2022 that it would need to be be demolished and rebuilt.
Relocation to Newport
In March this year (2024) Medina Healthcare made the shock announcement it would be merging its two practices together at the new facility on the edge of Newport at the Riverway Industrial Estate. A location some distance from public transport.
Alexander: It’s the last thing I can cope with
Many patients at the surgery have expressed their concerns about the planned relocation, including Chris Alexander who told News OnTheWight,
“I am exhausted. I am not sleeping. With all that I’m dealing with at the moment with my husband’s deteriorating health, the last thing I can cope with is the thought of having to try and get him or myself to Newport industrial estate for an appointment.
Talbot: This worry on top of everything is not helping an already difficult time
There are many others who will face difficulties reaching the new location, including Sarah Talbot’s son. She told News OnTheWight,
“Our son now lives in Wootton (aged 38), he has moved recently in order to be close to the Surgery.
“He has learning difficulties and autism, and this is part of his (and our) desire for him to be able to live as independently as possible.
“The relocation of the surgery is another obstacle to this ambition.
“He will certainly require additional support now just to get to a surgery.
“This worry on top of everything is not helping an already difficult time.”
Fishbourne residents affected too
However, it’s not just Wootton residents who are affected. There are many in Fishbourne who also rely on Wootton Bridge Medical Centre.
Ed Hopper, the Chair of Fishbourne Parish Council told News OnTheWight,
“The proposal to relocate the surgery from Wootton to a poorly connected industrial estate on the outskirts of Newport has caused worry and concern to many residents of Fishbourne parish, in particular those elderly and vulnerable patients who don’t drive, who will have to rely on public transport or take an expensive round trip in a taxi to see their Doctor.
“Residents value the excellent local service they have received from the team at Medina Healthcare for many years, and they want this to continue into the future.
“A badly built building surely cannot be sufficient reason to permanently impact access to vital healthcare for thousands of people across Fishbourne and Wootton. A local solution must be found.”
Redrup: Listen to these patients and explore all options
Councillor Sarah Redrup, the Isle of Wight council ward councillor for Wootton Bridge has been campaigning hard for an alternative solution. She told News OnTheWight,
“Since the announcement that the surgery will be leaving Wootton, I have been inundated with messages from worried patients.
“They feel terribly let down that this decision was made without consulting them first. Considering that there has been a GP in Wootton for decades, this relocation is essentially a closure for the village, and it will be a huge loss.
“I am urging the NHS Integrated Care Board to listen to these patients and explore all options of keeping a GP service in Wootton.”
Hall: Why I stood up with a transparent plastic figure
Wootton resident Erica Hall has been speaking to many of her friends and neighbours about the plans. At a public meeting held in March, Erica stood up with this transparent plastic figure below, explaining that she was speaking for those who could not attend.
Erica explained to News OnTheWight,
“I feel strongly that the residents of Wootton Bridge should all have convenient access to a GP.
“So, I attended the public meeting held on 27th March in the Old School Hall to find out more about the proposals to relocate our Wootton Doctors’ surgery to Newport.
“Towards the end of this meeting, when questions were taken, I stood up with a transparent plastic figure which I had taken with me to represent all the people whose voices I felt would not be heard at the meeting.
“First, I explained that I was fortunate, living in a household with a car and also able to travel easily by bus to Newport. For me, the relocation of the surgery would be rather inconvenient – but it would not cause any real problems. However, earlier that day, I had called on my 98-year-old neighbour, to ask if there was anything that she would like me to mention on her behalf at the meeting.”
She told Erica,
“It’s thoughtless. How is someone like me, who no longer drives, going to get to a surgery, which is a long walk from the bus station. There are Optio cars, but sometimes there are not enough volunteer drivers.”
Widowed resident with limited sight
Another neighbour, who Erica is very concerned about is a gentleman who has only limited sight. He was widowed a few years ago and has found life increasingly challenging without the support of his wife. As well as his companion, his wife used to be ‘his eyes’.
He is now dependent on friends and neighbours for daily tasks involving close vision – such as reading instructions. He can’t read the text messages that are sometimes sent to him by the doctors’ surgery. He does sometimes travel by bus but needs a clear, safe route to walk, because it is so difficult for him to negotiate roads that are not already familiar to him.
A plethora of other concerns
Erica has many other concerns in relation to the relocation of the surgery which she shares below:
- Many people are willing to help friends and neighbours with a quick lift to the local surgery in Wootton. However, driving out to Newport at busy times of the day can take a while. This may reduce the number of people able to offer help.
- I also have concerns for carers, who can perhaps only leave home for limited times. A quick visit to the local doctors’ surgery and perhaps also the local pharmacy might be possible within an hour – but a journey into Newport and back with the added anxiety about traffic delays could cause real concerns. It is well-known that many carers are often forced to neglect their own health needs due to lack of support.
- The pregnant mother with a young toddler, taking the bus journey, then the walk to the new surgery.
- The person with some symptoms – but who couldn’t manage the journey into Newport independently, so did not have the early diagnosis that would have made a difference in their recovery.
- The person with mental health issues who simply couldn’t face leaving a familiar area to travel to Newport.
- The person who did struggle to get to Newport feeling unwell – anxious and tired – having a heart attack on the way.
- The person who didn’t keep their appointment because they couldn’t afford the bus fare – potentially £8 return if two buses are needed. The taxi fare would be even more expensive.
- The parent asking for a short time away from work to quickly take a child to the local Wootton surgery, who now needs to book a half day off work due to the longer journey.
Background to the transparent figure
Erica explained the transparent cut out of a figure is from a Remembrance Sunday campaign There But Not There, run by the military charity Remembered, was launched in 2018 to commemorate, educate and heal through the installation of transparent figures in communities throughout the UK to highlight awareness of all those killed in war. The transparent figures sit in public buildings, such as Churches, in the communities where they once lived.
Share your views
Residents who are unable to attend the public meetings on Friday or Saturday can share their views via on online survey, or on a paper version available from the surgery.
