Churchdown Surgery Plans Approved

22/07/2008

Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust has approved plans for the new £3.7 million Churchdown Surgery clearing the way for building work to begin on site later this year.

The current GP premises in St John’s Avenue are in urgent need of replacement and the Practice hope that with the new development they will be able to provide an increased range of services more locally.

The new modern premises will be built on the land adjacent to Buttermilk Lane and Parton Road. The land is owned by EMBAR Medical Ltd who will be undertaking the development.

Senior Partner at Churchdown Surgery, Dr Peter Whitehead said:

“This is very welcome news indeed. The new surgery will increase the space available for services and ensure that patients are treated in the best possible environment.”
 
The plans include increased capacity at the practice in response to housing developments close by and there will be space for additional GPs and nursing staff when needed.  Churchdown Surgery will also become a training practice for doctors.

There will be space for community staff to work from the surgery and physiotherapy clinics are planned for the benefit of local patients.
 
Dr Whitehead added:

“We have worked extremely hard for at least ten years to identify development land that would meet our requirements and with the support of our patients we are pleased to be moving ahead with this exciting project.”

At a Board meeting last year, Gloucestershire PCT agreed that the Churchdown project should be one of its priority primary care developments. 

Chief Executive of Gloucestershire PCT, Jan Stubbings said:

“The current practice premises were built in 1965 as one of the first purpose built GP premises in the country. Some 40 years later the nature of primary care has changed considerably and our main concern is to support the GP Practice to develop the range of services for the growing local population.”