18/02/2026
**OPEN LETTER 18th February 2025
Concerning Recent Public Statements About Marriott’s Medical Practices and the Marriott’s Park Development**
Marriott’s Medical Practices wishes to provide clarity following recent public communications and resident circulars that refer to the practice and its role in the Marriott’s Park development.
1. Our Position Has Already Been Clearly Stated
On 8 December 2025, I wrote to Councillor Clancy explaining that while the practice continues to stress the importance of timely delivery of fit for purpose premises to the developer, council officers and the ICB, we cannot and will not involve ourselves in political activity, campaigning, or lobbying of any form.
This position was set out explicitly and unambiguously. [Email to S...08 12 2025 | PDF]
Our role is to remain apolitical and to focus our finite capacity on operational improvement and delivering safe, high quality patient care—not on political debate.
2. Inaccurate Public Assertions Require Correction
Subsequent communications—including an email dated 19 December 2025 and a letter circulated to residents—contain claims that misrepresent both the practice’s actions and its professional responsibilities.
These include:
• The suggestion that the practice “distanced itself” from planning, lobbying and delivery of premises
• Public statements questioning the practice’s strategic or operational capability to manage a new healthcare facility.
• Comments portraying the absence of additional responses as “disappointing, but not unexpected,” implying unwillingness to engage. These characterisations are incorrect.
The planning process, business case, funding model and timelines for new premises are the responsibility of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the developer, not the practice. We contribute professionally where appropriate, but we do not lead the statutory processes governing the development, nor can we guarantee outcomes that sit outside our authority.
3. On Tone and Public Commentary
Recent resident communications adopt an adversarial tone that is not aligned with collaborative working and risks undermining confidence in local NHS services. Several comments frame the practice’s professionalism, responsiveness, and capability in ways that are not supported by evidence and do not reflect our ongoing work with health system partners.
Setting boundaries to protect patient care and to avoid politicisation is not disengagement; it is responsible management.
It is therefore inappropriate for public commentary to attribute negative motives to the practice when those boundaries are respected.
4. What the Practice Will Continue To Do
• Engage with the ICB, developer and council officers in all clinically relevant discussions regarding new premises.
• Provide factual, apolitical information where required.
• Focus resources on patient care, safety, and service improvement.
5. What the Practice Cannot Do
• Participate in campaigning, lobbying, or political initiatives—regardless of how they are described.
• Accept public attribution of responsibilities that legally and operationally sit with other bodies.
• Allow external actors to draw the practice into disputes that compromise our neutrality or patient focus.
6. Constructive Engagement
As previously stated, the practice remains willing to consider defined, actionable proposals that directly support the delivery of new healthcare premises and sit within our proper remit. However, we cannot respond to or engage with communications framed in emotional rhetoric or adversarial language, as this does not support constructive, professional dialogue and risks undermining public confidence in local NHS services.
Such proposals should be submitted in writing and will be considered as capacity permits.
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Closing Statement
Marriott’s Medical Practices remains committed to serving the residents of Taverham and Thorpe Marriott with professionalism, transparency and focus. We will continue to uphold the standards expected of NHS providers and will correct public inaccuracies when required to protect patient confidence and organisational integrity.
Kind regards,
John Isherwood
Business Manager
Marriott’s Medical Practices
