MP Mark Pritchard makes case for extra GPs in Shifnal

Mark Pritchard, MP for Wrekin, has sat down with senior managers of Shropshire's Clinical Care Commissioning Group to talk about whether there are enough doctor's surgeries to cover Shifnal and Albrighton.

It comes after residents launched an action group called Shifnal Matters, and the collective are now gathering evidence for what they say is the town's "urgent need" for a new GP surgery.

Now Mr Pritchard has met the CCG's chairman Simon Freeman and director of primary care Nicky Wilde to try to find solutions.

After the meeting at Shifnal's old fire station, he said: "GP provision in Shifnal and Albrighton needs to expand. The area is seeing increasing demand for local GP services and this will increase further as both areas grows. I made a strong case for Shifnal's and Albrighton's increasing GP requirements".

At the most recent Shifnal Matters meeting, hundreds of people packed out the village hall to learn about the campaign group's plans and take part in a question and answer session.

A business case exercise for building a new practice in Shifnal is underway, and Shifnal Matters estimates that construction on a new building will begin in December this year.

Residents are to filling out a survey in order to share their views with the practice and the CCG. Anyone who wants to contribute can access an online link to the survey on the Shifnal Matters Facebook page, but must submit their views by March 22.