A LEADING councillor is to be part of a special task group to look at plans for controversial new health centres on the Fylde coast.
Penny Martin will be attending a meeting on Wednesday at County Hall in Preston to quiz North Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT) bosses and local GPs about the issue – which has sparked opposition from some local residents.
The PCT wants to buil
d two general practices in Thornton and Bispham and a GP-led medical centre in Fleetwood.
But more than 1,300 patients attended meetings to oppose the plans.
They are worried, along with some local family doctors, the centres would need a combined 18,000 patients and would devastate existing surgeries.
Coun Martin, who represents Thornton Cleveleys North, said it was her job and that of the rest of the task group to hear both sides, before making a recommendation to the county council's overview and scrutiny committee.
She said: "Obviously, there has been some tension and furore over this issue.
Recommendations"It isn't our job to take sides – the only side we're on is that of the good of the public.
"We will look at what has been proposed, hear from the PCT and GPs, ask questions and then make our recommendations to the overview and scrutiny committee.
"They have the authority to ask the minister to call in the decision in if they wish, if we are not happy about things.
"Part of the recommendations for equal access to care was that the local community should be behind the plans.
"Really it's our job to get the bottom of it, find out what's going on and to respond – for the benefit of local patients."
A public meeting due to be held between the North Lancashire PCT chief executive, Ian Cumming and the doctor leading the fight against the new surgeries, Thornton-based Dr Tony Naughton, was postponed at the end of June, although Dr Naughton said it may still take place.
The full article contains 334 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
