A recent survey by YouGov showed that 62% of people in the UK favour their local area becoming a ’15-minute neighbourhood’. This is a concept championed by Labour-run Oxford City Council to ensure that the things that people need the most are within a 15-minute walk or cycle of their homes. When ranking the most important amenities Britons voted for Bus Stops, Post Boxes, Pharmacies and GP Surgeries.

Currently Underdale residents have a few GPs within a 15-minute walk or cycle, if you don’t want to cross into the loop of the river there are Belvidere, Marden, and Marysville Medical Practices. However, these are now all under threat as they are among the six GPs that are to be relocated to a currently undisclosed location as part of a new Health Hub. The current plan for the Hub has been paused whilst NHS England develop their business plan before offering funding, but NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB still seem committed to moving forward with the plan. We need to keep our GPs in our communities to serve those most in need.