PENSIONERS in Melksham are leading the call for more GPs in the town to cope with the rising population.

According to figures up to the end of 2015, there are already 2,800 patients registered at the town’s three surgeries, Giffords, Spa and St Damian’s. Locals fear this could rise to over 33,000 as there are plans to build more than 2,000 new homes in the next few years.

Melksham Seniors Forum chairman Brian Warwick, whose members discussed the problem at their last meeting, said: “I think everyone is rightly very concerned about this situation. We are worried about vulnerable people being put at risk. There is a real problem in Melksham with medical services.

“There is such a shortage of doctors at the moment that they cannot keep up with demand. We need another three or so. Waiting times at Giffords are getting longer and the new telephone appointment system has exacerbated that.”

Currently, 18 doctors work at the Giffords and Spa surgeries, including two GP trainees. Several doctors also work at St Damian’s. In theory, this is enough to meet the national target of 0.58 full time equivalent (FTE) GP doctors per 1,000 patients.

However figures produced by Melksham’s health and wellbeing steering group, from public domain information published on Melksham GP websites, show found that only one doctor works full time at Giffords and Spa and most only work three days a week.

“The CCG and Wiltshire Council have underestimated the situation and at the moment an enormous amount of pressure is being put on service providers who are doing the best they can,” said Nick Westbrook, chairman of the health and wellbeing task group chairman.

“Melksham is being bombarded with houses. The population appears to be five years ahead of the planners and there are no plans to address this.”

His group recommends land is reserved for an extra surgery north or west of Melksham, a primary care facility in the area and community facilities on housing developments east of Melksham and in the Berryfield area.

A Wiltshire CCG spokesman said: “The issue is not restricted to Melksham. The NHS is under considerable financial pressure. It is up to individual practices to ensure the number of sessions provided meets the needs of their patient population.

“However, NHS Wiltshire CCG, NHS England and Wiltshire Council continue to work together to ensure that services are robust and resilient to meet the needs of the Wiltshire population now and into the future.”

Mr Warwick said: “That is not a good enough response, they need to do more. I want to know what they are doing about this.”