Computer problems mean Westbury-on-Severn doctors surgery still isn't open
PATIENTS are still waiting for their new doctors surgery to open – two months after a computer glitch forced it to close.
Westbury-on-Severn's surgery was due to open in October, then when it did in January it closed after just four hours – and it's not likely to open again until May at least.
Health bosses have blamed major computer problems but villagers are not impressed.
"To say we are disappointed would be an understatement," said Colin Evers, Westbury-on-Severn Parish Council chairman. "For elderly patients particularly, it's not easy to go to the same practice in Newnham because the parking there is terrible."
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He said there's been a doctor in the village since the 1880s and since the last surgery closed in 2010, NHS Gloucestershire worked quickly to get the building ready at the old Scout Hut in Rodley Road.
"We have this new building sitting there, it's beyond a joke," said Mr Evers. As The Citizen reported in January, the practice and the PCT were working to iron out the problems. On March 1, the practice said on its website that it would take "at least eight weeks" to get the right equipment, install and test it.
Efforts
Director of commissioning development at NHS Gloucestershire Debra Elliott said: "Both the practice and NHS Gloucestershire have been making every effort to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, and the primary care trust's IT team has been working with both the broadband data link and software providers to establish the cause of the problems. "We are now very close to resolving the connectivity issues with new solutions that have become available in recent months, and the PCT will be meeting with the surgery next week to finalise the options.
"The surgery building, which is located adjacent to the Parish Hall, is owned by NHS Gloucestershire, and was purchased at a cost of £300,000.
She thanked the community for their patience.
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