Dear Supporters,

Despite our tireless efforts, Farrier House had to close due to challenges like insufficient doctors and an outdated funding formula that doesn't work. In our journey, we engaged in discussions with influential figures, including Simon Ricketts, the CEO of the Hereford and Worcester Integrated Care Board (ICB), and Lord Allan of Hallam a health expert in the House of Lords as well as other healthcare experts.

We pushed for a variety of solutions but it quickly became obvious that the closure was inevitable and it was too late to save the practice.  The ICB had already explored many of the options we suggested. 

However, our commitment to a better healthcare system for Worcester remains unwavering. The root cause lies in a GP funding formula that doesn't work. To prevent more closures, we must fix this issue.

So as the election period starts ask your candidates and representatives what they will do to ensure GPs in Worcester have enough money to keep their doors open, ask them if they understand how the GP funding formula is affecting provision in our city. 

Another key starting point is training and retaining more doctors, and the Three Counties Medical School plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal. There is an artificial limit placed on how many funded places there are for aspiring doctors in our city.

The University of Worcester has some funded places but it could be admitting more medical students. They just need the money to do this and this is a political decision.  Ask your politicians what they plan to do to ensure the University of Worcester gets more funded places. 

Collaboration between the University of Worcester and the Integrated Care Board is also crucial. Simon Ricketts promised us that his team would explore ways of collaborating closer with the university and we look forward to this. 

For those who have transitioned to new GPs, your experiences matter. Please share your stories with us as we will continue to push for you to have a better service. We have been assured that the remaining GP practices have the capacity and that everyone will be provided for and have a better experience. We want to make sure that this is true and that it happens. 

Make sure you contact your representatives and ask: 

• What will you do to ensure the GP funding formula works for Worcester? 
• What will you do to ensure the University of Worcester gets more funded medical school places? 
• What will you do to ensure better collaboration between the ICB, and the University of Worcester? 

You can find your relevant representative by clicking here: https://www.writetothem.com/

Your continuous support is invaluable. Thank you for standing with us as we navigate these complex challenges. If you get any responses share those with us!

Please feel free to reach out to us through our website https://worcesterlibdems.org.uk/

Sincerely,

The Worcester Liberal Democrat Team

for more information contact

Cllr Jessie Jagger

Jessievjagger@outlook.com