Councillors Sara Hyde, Paul Convery and Una O’Halloran outside the Roman Way Medical Centre

• AS Labour councillors for Caledonian ward, we have been campaigning for NHS England to provide continued GP surgery provision on or near the site of Roman Way Medical Centre, from the end of August when it was scheduled for closure.

We are therefore deeply disappointed that NHS England has announced it will not provide a new GP surgery to replace the medical centre. The strength of feeling for this to happen is clear from the 560 petition signatures we gathered and the numerous discussions we had with local people.

The changes mean that the medical centre will relocate to Islington Central Medical Centre at 28 Laycock Street. Patients will automatically be registered to the new practice.

We firmly believe that NHS England must continue exploring potential new sites for a GP surgery, to meet demand in Caledonian ward as the population increases, and with new housing developments on the way.

Unfortunately, the Tory government’s procurement policy, which favours private American providers over local people’s needs, has so far made it harder for NHS England to open a new medical centre nearby.

We will continue to fight to protect the NHS and local people’s ability to access these vital services.

CLLR PAUL CONVERY,
CLLR SARA HYDE,
CLLR UNA O’HALLORAN
Labour, Caledonian ward