Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board considering its options for Cardinal Surgery after Tooks Bakery plans scrapped
The NHS is looking to move forward with plans for a new GP surgery in Ipswich – despite previous proposals falling through.
The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE IBC) hopes to have a plan in motion for how best to proceed with Cardinal Practice, at the former Tooks Bakery site in Old Norwich Road, by the end of the year.
The original plans for Cardinal Practice were scrapped in October as costs grew too high in what the ICB has described as a ‘disappointing decision’.
However, it remained committed to finding an ‘affordable alternative’
At its last meeting in November, the ICB raised concerns of increasing pressure on care providers in the area and hopes to move forward with the plans as swiftly as possible.
A spokesman said: “Everyone is working hard on finding a solution that will improve primary care facilities for people at the Cardinal practice in north west Ipswich.
“We are actively exploring options in Ipswich with the Cardinal Practice, such as expanding the existing estate or making the best opportunity of other existing local buildings where available.
“We remain committed to making this happen as quickly as possible and our chief executive has asked for practical improvements to have started by the end of this year.”
Last month, Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich and Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, met with care minister Stephen Kinnock to discuss the future of the site.
During the conversation, the pair raised the need for improved primary care in the north west of the town in the hopes the decision to scrap the plans would be reviewed.
The proposed surgery would have had 29 clinic rooms, 11 nurse rooms and a minor operating suite.
Ed Garratt, chief executive of the ICB, offered a public apology to the residents of Ipswich that the site would not progress due to a significant rise in costs.
However, he said plans for how the surgery will proceed are set to be announced in due course.
