First step in £2 million Whitchurch clinics merger bid

Plans have been put forward to expand parking at the hospital in Claypit Street so the town's Richmond House and Bridgewater medical practices can merge and form a new GP unit at the site.

Shropshire Community NHS Trust has drawn up proposals to support the new unit – which would be in the disused Beech ward – including 70 car parking spaces and a cycle shelter. The trust has submitted plans to Shropshire Council in the past few days.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Richmond House surgery, which is based in Station Road, may have had to shut down next year unless it could find another building to work from.

But in a bid to save the surgery, staff jobs and also improve services in the area, a plan was drawn up to merge with Bridgewater Medical Practice in a base at the hospital – plans that were granted £2 million from the Government.

David Marsh, planning agent on behalf of the community health trust, said: "The proposed development is essential for supporting the conversion of part of the existing hospital building to a GP unit, thereby enabling the provision of an essential community facility which will be of benefit to neighbouring residents and other people living within the local area.

"The additional dwellings which may potentially be delivered on this site will increase the need for accessible GP facilities in the local area.

"The delivery of this much-needed facility is therefore dependent upon the provision of adequate on-site car parking."

In March it was announced that the scheme had been granted a £2 million boost as part of a £25 million pot set aside to pay for building, modernising and expanding 141 GP practices in the West Midlands.

Speaking at the time Dr Caron Morton, accountable officer for Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said the group was "absolutely thrilled" with the investment plans.

Shropshire councillor Gerald Dakin, who represents Whitchurch South, said he was delighted to see the plans submitted to Shropshire Council.

He said: "I am extremely pleased to see it making progress and I am pleased to see they are going to make adequate parking provision for the surgery and also perhaps some overspill space for the hospital as well.

"I don't think the future of the hospital has been uncertain – there has always been a need for Whitchurch Community Hospital in the area – but it is good to see it be promoted now in the Future Fit community plans."

NHS Future Fit has been looking at how the community hospitals in the county can work with others, and MP for North Shropshire Owen Paterson has called for an urgent care centre to be introduced at the site in Whitchurch.

Councillor Dakin said: "There are talks about doing more work, so rather than just a minor injuries unit it is hoping we could make it an urgent care centre. That is very exciting. It is a wonderful hospital and we need to use it to the best of its ability."