Residents are calling for more communication from Vale of White Horse District Council about the progress of a “much-needed” GP surgery in Didcot's Great Western Park.

Calls for a new surgery have been ongoing for more than a decade, with people having to travel to hospital because they cannot get a GP appointment.

The NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB) published a timetable stating that building work would begin early next year, and said that Vale of White Horse District Council were working with the developer to transfer the site ownership.

While the district council say that it is the responsibility of the ICB to provide deliver healthcare and provide updates on the site, residents and councillors say that the district council should update residents on the next steps.

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Didcot resident Luke Hislop had to take his six-week-old son to hospital after his ongoing cough became more serious because he could not book an appointment at his nearest GP for several weeks.

His son was discharged within a few hours, but Mr Hislop said the situation could have been avoided if he was able to see a GP earlier.

He said: “I am disappointed that the system has let down our family and families across Didcot like this.

“It’s absolutely ludicrous that there are just over 3,500 new homes in Great Western Park alone and not enough GP services.”

Laura Greatrex, Labour’s candidate for the Didcot West ward, said the delays to the surgery were “beyond ridiculous”.

She said: “Everyone knows how challenging it is to access primary care in Didcot. I’m hearing horror stories all the time.

“Residents are taken for fools, as there’s no clear communication about who is responsible for the next steps or when we can expect progress.”

When requested for comment, Olly Glover MP for Didcot and Wantage, said that he met with the ICB and district council last summer to push for a timetable to be created.

He said: “The need for a GP surgery on Great Western Park (GWP) is clear priority for people in Didcot, and for me.

“I continue to liaise with the ICB and the councils to press for progress on the new surgery."

(Image: Contributed) A spokesperson from the district council said that the ICB “regularly update information about the progress of the new GWP surgery premises” and pointed residents to its website.

The spokesperson added: “The council’s Property team continue to liaise with Taylor Wimpey on the transfer of the site into council ownership.

“Once the site is transferred to Vale of White Horse, the council will grant a long lease to Assura as Woodland Medical Centre’s appointed developer.

“Assura will need to secure planning consent (from Vale of White Horse as the planning authority) to build the GP surgery on the site which Woodlands Medical Centre can run as the branch surgery.

“This planning application does not need to wait for the site to be transferred but we have not yet received such an application.”

The ICB said that information about progress of the GWP surgery will be updated on their website when appropriate.