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Merger scheme for £5m state-of-the-art surgery


TIME is running out for patients in Coxheath in the search for a suitable site for a newGP surgery. Expansion of the village has


causedmajor growing pains for its two Heath Road health centres, which are now exploring the op- tion of merging services in a £5m, state-of-the-art practice, funded by themselves. Practicemanager JulietteNorton


(44), from Greensand Health Cen- tre, is one of four partners backing the


project,


which is being explored ahead of the lease end- ing on the vil- lage’s Orchard Medical Centre this year. She said: “With


no movement on an alternative practice at Clock House Farm Es- tate, and with every cupboard and shoebox being used at Greensand, we believe there is nothing to lose and a lot to gain from exploring a


new-build at Hill Farm.” The proposal for a health centre


on just under half-a-hectare of farmland, offered free by Alan Firmin, is now in front of Maid- stone’s planning officers,with a de- cision likely byMay. Itwould have 10 consulting rooms and a patient list of 15,000 – 3,000more than the two existing surgeries. MrsNorton said: “We are excited


about the chance to offer a more comprehensive service that can grow with our patient lists, even though it has meant a lot of plate- spinning to get together the mort- gage, planning application and business case thatwill be needed by theNHS commissioning group.” However, Linton Parish Council


believes the greenfield develop- ment idea is in the wrong place. Chairman Jerry Whitmarsh feels incorporating a pharmacy and healthy living cafe on the premises would also threaten outlets, such as Lloyds, in Coxheath. It is a reaction Mrs Norton says


she is disappointed by, adding: “I wish theywould have given us the opportunity to reassure them about any concerns.” Even Coxheath Parish Council,


while recognising the need for a new surgery, says it would “much prefer one closer to the centre of Coxheath”. Borough councillor Brian Mor-


timer understands the division, but also the growing call on doctors in the area. He said: “Of course it would be better for a more central site, but time is not on our side.” A statement by the applicants’


consultant concludes that, while the site atClockHouse FarmEstate has outline approval, it “is not of sufficient size or layout to provide the facilities identified as being re- quired and, without a solution, of- fers no way to deal with the additional patients coming to the locality”. Mrs Norton says completion at


Hill Farmwould be possible by au- tumn 2019 if permission is given.


Mini-miler Amy


YOUNGAmy Saunderswill be run- ning to raise funds for the Butter- cupsGoat Sanctuary, in Boughton Monchelsea, on Saturday, April 14. It will be the second time the


11-year-old, from Langley, has taken part in the Brighton mini- mile. This time she will be running to support the sanctuary, where she has adopted Teddy (with whom she is pictured), and the hospitals that have helped her copewith Short Gut Syndrome –a condition she has had frombirth – which forces her to rely on intra- venous nutrient “top-ups”. Amy can be sponsored at www.paypal.me/saunderssam.


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