Suffolk NHS is pushing to kick off new surgery plans in Ipswich by the end of this year after previous proposals fell through
Ipswich: The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Ipswich Borough Council had plans to turn the old Tooks bakery into a super-surgery. This was supposed to be led by Cardinal Medical Practice.
But back in October last year, they scrapped those plans, saying it just wasn’t affordable anymore. Now, the ICB is looking to start fresh and explore other options by the end of this year.
A spokesperson for the ICB mentioned that everyone is working hard to find a solution to improve primary care for folks at the Cardinal practice in north-west Ipswich. They’re considering expanding existing facilities or making use of other local buildings.
They’re really committed to getting this sorted quickly, and the chief executive has asked for practical improvements to be underway by year’s end. The idea for the new surgery at the Tooks site was first floated back in 2017.
This new facility was meant to be built at the junction of Bury Road and Old Norwich Road, aimed at boosting local primary care in partnership with the NHS and the borough council.
Since the cancellation, both Dr. Ed Garrett, the chief executive of SNEE, and Neil MacDonald, the borough council leader, have publicly apologized to Ipswich residents. Local MPs Patrick Spencer and Jack Abbott have also been in talks with government ministers about the future of these plans and how to enhance primary health care in Ipswich.
