FRESH calls for a GP surgery to be housed in the new Rose Hill community centre have been put to NHS bosses.

Residents urged members of the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) to rethink their decision not to provide the area with its own surgery during a public meeting.

Rose Hill resident of more than 30 years, Peter Wilkinson, said: “The point was made that Rose Hill is among the most deprived areas in not only the city but the country and with that comes big health issues. We have been fighting for a GP surgery for many years and with the new community centre we were told we would be getting one.

“We have been told we can go to Wood Farm or Oxford, but if you are elderly or infirm you cannot do that. We want something local. All the facilities are there, there is a large area dedicated to the health service in the centre and now it is not going to be used to the extent it should.”

But at the meeting last Thursday the OCCG claimed the space was not suitable for a GP surgery. It added it was still looking at other options for further care.

Provision for a surgery had originally been included in plans for the £4m centre, which is due to open in January next year in Ashurst Way.

But in February the OCCG and health commissioning body NHS England said it wanted a different approach, with services that were “different and broader to traditional general practice”.

On Thursday, the OCCG said it was looking into providing enhanced services instead, such as weight management, talking therapies or services for the elderly and vulnerable. Members also said they had visited the site recently and were still in the process of deciding what services could be delivered there.

Spokesman Richard McCrann said: “Oxfordshire CCG and partners are looking at delivering some health services in the centre that will best meet the needs of the local community.

“The CCG does not commission core GP services, but we are looking to see what enhanced primary care could be provided once the centre has opened next year.”

Mr Wilkinson dubbed the alternative services suggested as a “sweetener” and called for better communication from the health body after being “left in the dark” on decisions previously.

Oxford city councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley, Ed Turner said: “The council desperately wants to see improved access to health facilities in Rose Hill including access to GPs – as many people struggle to get to the nearest surgeries, especially those who find it hard to travel.

“We would love to see a GP surgery in this building”