Bristol Pleads for More Medical Facilities After Rapid Population Growth

Due to a number of new residences being built in areas within Bristol, there have been rising requests for general practitioners and dental care. As a result, the City Council has openly called for more health facilities.

At the beginning of 2023, Bedminster GP’s stressed that the population increase had not been anticipated and therefore there is a lack of medical facilities to match the volume. The situation got so dire that doctors were having to redirect people to the city centres surgery. 

The Integrated Care Board, which oversee the NHS in Bristol, is being asked to explain how it plans to satisfy demand going forward. In a recent conference, the ‘Golden Motion’ was put forward which called for an assessment to see what medical resources should be allocated. 

However, GP’s have also expressed concern that even if new surgeries are built, not enough funding is in place to pay for procedures.

Cllr Ellie King, who put forward the ‘Golden Motion’ emphasised that, “The Government has a responsibility to ensure all healthcare services are well-funded. While the Government is responsible for funding health services, the ICB has a duty to ensure that Bristol’s population has adequate access to healthcare,”

. “Additional healthcare facilities – including General Practitioners and dentists – as well as hospital facilities, will be needed to keep up with Bristol’s growing population. Areas of high population growth such as Bedminster and Hillfields and neighbouring wards will need expanded healthcare infrastructure. The Integrated Care Board should work closely with the council and its partners to ensure residents get the healthcare services they will need,” added the council chief. 

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