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September 2006
Local NHS chiefs want to close the Granby House Clinic in St Johns Road. The clinic provides the Bedminster and Ashton community with key local health services - especially for mothers, mothers-to-be, and young children.
The Green Party agrees that the building is far from ideal - but insists that the services must be kept in this growing community where they're needed.
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What the Primary Care Trust is saying
- The building is unsuitable
- Money raised from its sale could go to pay the rent of a purpose built facility.
- The purpose built facility would also replace the St Johns Lane Health Centre
- For the time being, services could be relocated to Knowle (Broadfield Road)
- Comments are invited
What the Greens are doing
- Spreading the word (see press release)
- Contacting local MP Dawn Primarolo
- Insisting on keeping the services local
- Adding to the 'consultation'
- Supporting the on-line petition (closes Sept 14)
What residents are telling Cllr Charlie Bolton
| "Granby has the feel of a community centre, you can drop in for advice any
time and they run free baby massage courses as well as many other things
that give you an opportunity to meet other mums and get some support at a
time at which you can feel very isolated. " |
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"The only reason the PCT has given for the move is the state of Granby House
itself. As a Victorian building it is impossible to put a lift up to the
second floor and they cite the costs in maintaining an old building." |
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"I had my first baby in March this year, and the team at Granby were
incredibly supportive and reliable. It was very important to me that they
were so close by, especially as I can't drive. " |
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"Also, the prenatal classes they run meant that there was a chance to meet
other couples in the same position who live nearby - this is so important
when you have a baby!! " |
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"I'm an expectant Mum using this resource at the moment, so would be
disadvantaged by a move of the service. My main concern is the problems
that this will cause with increased use of Doctors (who are already hard to
see) as patients use local doctors rather than travel out to Knowle (the
proposed alternative following Granby's closure). Also I am concerned for
expectant mums having to travel for a service in Knowle to where there are
poor transport links from where I live." |
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"This service should be improved locally, not relocated to inconvienience
this group of not exactly vulnerable people but as pregnant women, we are
certainly not as mobile as your average Jo." |
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"I am eight months pregnant at present and have been using the services at
Granby House clinic throughout my pregnancy. The news (of the proposed
closure) came as a shock and another disappointment that Bristol City
Council are yet again closing a local service, meaning that people then have
to use their cars to get to a clinic, or like myself who doesn't drive, take
two buses to get to where you need to be " |
Update... November 2007
Evidently the protests against Granby House's closure bore fruit. We were glad to receive this message from the Primary Care Trust:
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Please could you correct your website and the text about Granby House clinic as there are several inaccuracies and the issue has moved on:
a)we have found a better solution to replacing Granby House Clinic and we are in the process of progressing proposals to move services to a modern building in nearby West Street, Bedminster. The new premises are just a few hundred metres away from Granby and offer more useable space. The PCT will therefore be able to keep services local.
b)The possibility of moving some services to Knowle was discounted some time ago.
c)The replacement building is currently set out as open-plan space which can be partitioned and fitted out to meet modern clinical standards. It will also be fully compliant with disabled access legislation and as such will provide much better access. Overall there will be nearly 20% more space which will be better for staff and patients. All staff and services will be transferring to the new premises so there will be no redundancies or redeployment.
d)Replacement facilities for the health centre at St Johns Lane are not part of this project and are being looked at separately ,
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