MP Ben Maguire Calls for GP Provision in New North Cornwall Developments

GP Crisis Warning: 5,000 More Homes Per Surgery in Cornwall

Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall Ben Maguire has called for a new guarantee to ensure GP services are delivered alongside housing developments, as pressure on surgeries across Cornwall continues to grow.

The proposal forms part of a wider campaign aimed at linking new housing with healthcare provision, following new analysis highlighting the strain on GP services.

Rising Pressure on GP Surgeries

According to the analysis, GP surgeries in Cornwall are now serving an average of 5,336 more homes each compared to 2015, representing a 27% increase.

Across the country, the figures also show that around 1,300 GP surgeries have closed between 2015 and 2025.

In North Cornwall, the impact is already being felt, with some surgeries operating at 160% capacity while thousands of new homes have been approved.

Call for GP Guarantee on New Developments

Ben Maguire has welcomed plans that would require all new developments in North Cornwall to include new or expanded GP surgeries.

Under the proposal, these facilities would need to be up and running by the time the first homes are sold. Developers would also be expected to fund the new services and guarantee GP contracts, or cover the cost of salaried GPs while new residents move in.

The aim is to prevent additional pressure being placed on existing practices, which are already struggling to meet demand.

‘Infrastructure First’ Approach

The plans build on Ben’s proposed “Infrastructure First” approach to development, which he brought to Parliament through the Planning and Development (Community Infrastructure) Bill in July 2025.

The wider campaign also focuses on improving access to GP appointments, with the Liberal Democrats calling for a system where patients can be seen within seven days, or within 24 hours for urgent cases.

Link Between Healthcare and Public Trust

The importance of accessible healthcare has also been highlighted in recent research from the London School of Economics, which found that areas with declining GP provision and more surgery closures have seen a significant rise in support for the extreme right.

What Ben Maguire Said

Ben Maguire said:

“There has never been a worse time to be a patient in North Cornwall with health services overstretched and NHS targets routinely missed. North Cornwall badly needs investment in local services, including GPs, to cut waiting times and get people the care they desperately need.

“In areas across North Cornwall there are GP buildings needing replacement, renovations and extensions. Councils and local communities should be given the powers to hold developers’ feet to the fire and demand the local doctor’s surgeries we so badly need before the first house is sold.

“That’s why I’m continuing to get our local NHS back on track, with my Infrastructure First Bill that I bought to Parliament following my election, I will keep working hard to deliver the GP provision North Cornwall badly needs.”