A NEW super surgery could be built in Leominster to help treat the town’s growing ageing population.

The Marches Surgery and Westfield Surgery – both currently based in one building on Westfield Walk – have applied to the New Primary Care Infrastructure Fund in a bid to progress a case for a modern new centre for more than 18,000 patients.

The fund – announced by the chancellor in the autumn statement – and the submitted application is requesting permission to progress to an “outline business case” for the development of new premises for the surgeries.

The proposal includes closing the existing premises and replacing them with a modern, specifically designed and adaptable surgery.

In a statement on behalf of both surgeries, Dr Ivan Wall, said: “With a growing ageing population, an increase in chronic and long term illnesses and a need for health education, a new development is now essential to protect the long-term service being delivered to Leominster.

“Without a new development, the service in its current form is under threat. The surgeries have proposed a new development in the town with the ability to transform services to more than 18,000 patients in the region. If approved this scheme could be complete and serving the population within three to four years.”

The practices provide services for Leominster and the surrounding area and according to its statistics, Leominster’s Grange ward has the highest rate of long-term illness in Herefordshire.

The Ridgemore and Grange wards are among the 25 per cent most deprived in England while Leominster south has the largest rate of teenage conception in Herefordshire.

“This application is submitted as there is a real opportunity for change,” Dr Wall added.

“Failure to engage and go forward will threaten the future of services in this region.”

A number of intermediate services could also be relocated from the acute sector.