Two Buckinghamshire GP practices have opened the doors of their new practice building this week.
The Millbarn and Simpson GP practices in Beaconsfield have started welcoming patients to their new facility today, as they begin delivering care from their 30 new consultation and treatment rooms at the site to the south of the town.
The new Beaconsfield Primary Care Centre is approximately 1800 sqm with a 125sqm pharmacy and will accommodate care for more than 20,000 patients as the town’s population grows with new housing. The building is highly sustainable, with solar panels to generate electricity and electric vehicle charging points on site for staff and patients.
The new centre was developed and funded by Assura, which will now be the site’s long term premises partner, and built by Ashe Construction. The scheme also benefited from capital funding from NHS England as part of a national programme to support investment in the primary care estate.
Dr Steve Brown, senior partner at Millbarn Surgery said: “All of us at The Millbarn are very excited...We will be able to provide high quality medical care with these new facilities and meet the challenges that the NHS faces in the future.”
Dr Rakhit, Managing Partner of the Simpson Centre, said: “We now have the space we need to develop patient journeys and expand their experience, collaborating with other agencies like volunteer groups and other support agencies to provide more holistic care.”
Our Senior Development Manager, Richard Drew, said: “This fantastic facility adds capacity for the NHS in Beaconsfield way into the future. Given that construction ran right through the height of lockdowns and the enormous pressures on the GP practices during COVID vaccinations, it’s even more special to see the doors finally opening for patient care.”
The new building has a 110-space car park, 29 clinical rooms, health education facilities and meeting rooms, and the design allows both GP practices to retain their own identity whilst working collaboratively together for patients.
As part of the scheme, Assura has also funded a community art project which will include the medical centre site.
The project will see the creation of a mosaic trail designed to celebrate key workers, including one installed on the side of the medical centre building in collaboration with mosaicist Maud Milton. Assura has provided £15,000 in funding for the project, which is being led by Creative Partnerships Beaconsfield – a local group which aims to help build skills and reduce isolation through community art.
Mosaic tiles for the artwork will be decorated and co-created by local people.