A new health centre for Portswood
September 2006
The proposals to redevelop the Portswood bus depot offered a golden opportunity to improve community resources. But local residents were the key to making it happen.
It's always important that big developments, like the one in Portswood, take into account the views of the people who are going to live near them. Local residents were very clear that they thought the original proposals didn't go far enough.
When the development was first announced, I wrote to residents in the surrounding area asking whether they were generally in favour of the development and how they thought the development plans could be improved. Of the 270 people who replied, by far and away the most often requested addition to the development was a new health centre, instead of additional student housing.
Portswood currently has five small GP surgeries. Local doctors have told me that the layout, age and location of their surgeries currently makes it difficult for them to provide a wide range of health services to patients.
In contrast the new health centre has the potential to be a 'one-stop shop' for healthcare. It would be easily accessible, highly visible and provide more health services. Minor surgical procedures could even be provided on-site, eliminating the need for a stay in hospital.
The new health centre isn't quite a done deal yet. Talks still need to take place between the developers and doctors' representatives about the size of the centre and how any move would be managed to provide minimal disruption to patients. I will do my best to keep residents informed about how the talks are progressing.
We have only come this far because local residents made their views known, by writing letters and attending meetings. I hope the new health centre will come to be seen as a testament to what can be achieved when people work together to improve their community.
Originally published in the Highfield Residents' Association 30th Anniversay Issue Newsletter (Autmn 2006)