CAMPAIGNERS have held crunch talks with health chiefs in a bid to cure Wickford’s “struggling “ GP services.

David Harrison and Alan Ball, Wickford Independents councillors for Wickford Park and Castledon wards respectively, met with the NHS and Clinical Commissioning group to spell out concerns about the town’s health services.

CCGs are responsible for planning and commissioning health services, including at GP surgeries.

Representatives from Patient Participation Groups from each of the Wickford surgeries were also in attendance.

At Monday’s meeting, it was agreed that GPs in Wickford would now have access to meeting and training rooms at the £2million replacement London Road Surgery, currently being built on the former market site.

It is due to be completed by Spring 2017.

Remedial work to provide more admin space at the existing Wickford Health Centre and more clinical space at Swanwood Surgery are also due to be completed by the end of the year.

Funding for the project is to be paid for by £120,000 contributed under an agreement the council has with the developer of the new 575-home St Luke’s Place estate, in Runwell.

Despite the steps taken, Mr Harrison says the deal excludes use of GP rooms and is concerned for Wickford’s health care future.

He said: “It’s all very well that there is work going on, but we are still faced with an extra 1,500 patients in Wickford when St Luke’s arrives.

“Having the other GPs using the training and meeting rooms at the market site is a step forward, because originally that wasn’t even planned.

“Having access to the treatment rooms would be ideal for the other surgeries, but the reality is even with the London Road surgery replacement, we are still one GP down.”