WORK could finally start on creating an urgent care centre in Devizes by Christmas next year.

Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group has said a design team will be in place by January and the outline business case is being prepared.

Sarah MacLennan from the CCG told members of Devizes Area Board that a financial bid for NHS allocation had at last passed many hurdles meaning that after nearly five years of setbacks the centre would become a reality.

But CCG chairman Dr Richard Sandford-Hill said that bureaucratic processes had taken a long time but had been helped by the intervention of Devizes MP Claire Perry.

In May planning permission for the centre was given by Wiltshire Council. The project in Marshall Road also includes 50 homes, access roads, landscaping and open spaces.

Earlier this year Dr Sandford-Hill, who is a GP in Market Lavington, said: "Devizes has to have a GP-led medical space. It has got to happen. I am 100 per cent committed to this and will work tirelessly to make it happen."

Ms Perry said: "The new centre will offer same-day urgent care for patients of all five local GP practices and will share services like X-rays with the Devizes Treatment Centre and will provide a location for services currently delivered in Devizes Hospital."

Dr Sandford-Hill added: “It’s all systems go to work towards the implementation of this important, long-awaited scheme that will provide modern, fit-for-purpose premises for the delivery of healthcare for the people of the Devizes community area.”

He apologised to the area board that the £7 million project had taken so long to come together.

It is expected the urgent care centre will be completed by late 2020 to mid 2021.

Many people in Devizes have fought tirelessly to get new services for the town after the minor injury unit closed at Devizes Hospital. Former mayors including Margaret Taylor and Paula Winchcombe spearheaded campaigns by DASH2 to make sure that the town did not lose out.