Scores of people attended a drop-in session last week to have their say on the latest plans for a community health centre in Sunningdale, subject to planning permission.
Click here for a copy of the plans.
Local resident, 75-year-old Jackie Bailey from Ascot, was amongst more than a hundred people who attended the event which took place between 5pm and 8.30pm on Thursday 3 October at Macdonald Berystede Hotel and Spa in Sunninghill.
Hosted by NHS East Berkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and a project team, the meeting provided an opportunity for attendees to look at the latest plans being proposed for a state-of-the-art health centre to be built within the grounds of Ben at Lynwood, Rise Road, Sunningdale.
The proposal forms a part of a wider Ascot health plan, which is to modernise primary and community care for local residents over the coming years.
Ms. Bailey, who has been a local resident of Ascot since the age of six and a patient at Kings Corner surgery, said: “I fully support the need for a new health centre as it’s for the local community.”
She added: “It’s something I feel very strongly about and it would be an utter disgrace if we wouldn’t have it done.”
Alex Tilley, East Berkshire CCG’s Associate Director for Primary Care, said: “On behalf of my CCG colleagues, Vail Williams and the project team, I would like to personally thank everyone who attended last week’s drop-in session which was very well attended.
“The feedback received is valuable and will now be considered as part of our revised planning application which is due to be submitted this month.”
She added: “Many people will be aware that a planning application for the erection of the new build was initially submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2017.
“However, following discussions with the Local Planning Authority and key stakeholders, it became apparent that the proposals needed to be revisited in order to satisfy some concerns raised. Hence, the application was withdrawn and we are now in the process of resubmitting a revised one which will provide clear and robust justification that, in this instance, exceptional circumstances exist to allow new development in the Green Belt. We intend that it will reach a borough-wide planning panel in early 2020.”
The wider ‘Ascot plan’ seeks to deliver a single, consistent, resilient, high quality and sustainable primary care service for the people of Ascot between now and the coming years, with the aim of bringing together four existing practices through better collaboration working.
Alex Tilley continued: “The current primary care service in Ascot is not sustainable for many reasons as outlined in the Ascot plan, which is why change is necessary.
“As it currently stands, Magnolia House and Kings Corner are unable to expand to cope with current capacity and demand, with the majority of their consultation and treatment rooms located on the first floor with no lift facility for those in need.
“Therefore, the plan to build the new site would provide high quality accommodation for both these practices, with improved access for patients who are frail or who have disabilities, with co-ordinated care between health and social care.
“It would also enable access to a wider range of services in the community and a more collaborative way of delivering primary care, with the potential to offer services for urgent care and on-the-day primary care, as well as additional healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, mental health teams and voluntary sector.”
If you were unable to make last week’s engagement event but have a query relating to the proposed plans, then please email Vail Williams who are assisting the CCG through the planning process. Their email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
