Work is under way to relocate Emsworth Surgery in Hampshire to a new home in the town centre. The £3.5m scheme is due to be completed in early 2021 and it is hoped that the new surgery could open its doors to its first patients by the spring. gbpartnerships Consultancy Team, through Hampshire LIFT Limited, produced both the outline and full business case and supported the local NHS to engage with the public. The team have now been appointed to design and construct the project on behalf of NHS South East Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group and the GP’s, with NHS Property Services acting as landlord. For years GPs, staff and patients have struggled to cope on their cramped existing site a stone’s throw away from the unused hospital. The local system had also struggled to agree and articulate a joint vision for the project.
Building works will involve the demolition of single-storey outbuildings, a new rear single-storey extension to the main building, the installation of a new lift shaft, the reconfiguration of rooms within the surgery and internal and external decorations.
Dr Abu Chinwala, a partner at Emsworth Surgery, said:
"This is good news for us as GPs and every member of our staff, who just want to be able to offer our patients the best possible primary care services and facilities that we can. But most importantly it’s great news for our patients. The practice had 2,000 patients when we opened. We have 13,000 now. We just could not have coped much longer on our existing site.”
Sara Tiller, Managing Director of NHS South East Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which has supported the scheme and helped secure the funding from NHS England, said:
"It’s fantastic to see a vision turn into reality – and that is what we are seeing on site now. It’s a win/win situation – great news for all those people who campaigned so strongly to keep the surgery in the heart of their community; great news for the GPs who wanted to provide modern and accessible premises with space to expand; and great news for patients.”
Adam Shepheard, Principal Construction Manager for NHS Property Services said:
“We are pleased to have reached a positive long-term solution which has provided the best outcome for all parties. The local community is able keep an important local site in public possession, as well as retain their GP service in the locality and this was achieved through working proactively with local stakeholders and partners. The community will now benefit from a modern, fit-for-purpose GP surgery that serves the healthcare needs for patients and a better working environment for staff.” If you'd like to find out more about the NHS Estate Consultancy Services, contact us via email: enquiries@gbpartnerships.co.uk