Our new Hadrian Health Centre in Wallsend town centre opened its doors to patients of the GP practices who will operate from the building on Monday 19 December.
The centre on Elton Street East became home of local GP practices Park Road Medical Practice and Portugal Place Health Centre who have now merged as Hadrian Health Centre. The move will help the long-term sustainability of the practices enabling them to offer high quality and modern health services for their patients. This was difficult in their current premises which are ageing, lack adequate space and did not meet the needs of patients with disabilities, with challenges around both access and parking for patients visiting the surgeries.
Hadrian Health Centre will be providing primary care services from the entirety of the ground floor, with space on the first floor for admin and staff meeting space. The remainder of the first floor and the entirety of the second floor of the building will be occupied by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Some of their community services will be moving into the building in the new year and the trust will keep patients updated as necessary about these services.
The £9.5 million development is in the heart of Wallsend near The Forum shopping centre. The building has been built to modern, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art specifications including solar panels to limit the electricity required from the grid and reducing carbon footprint. It includes both consulting and treatment rooms, light and airy spaces for patients and good access for disabled people and those with young children due to wider doors/corridors and the provision of lifts. There is also dedicated training areas for the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
The merging of the two local practices into one larger practice, allows them to share resources and work more flexibly, whilst making it easier for patients to access a range of other services all in the same building. The centre has good public transport links and offers dedicated staff parking and free parking for patients in the surrounding Forum Shopping Centre and Aldi car parks.
Patients of the practices have been informed of the move and do not need to do anything to transfer. Patients can contact the practice on a new number 0191 300 2707; however, all existing telephone numbers will also continue to operate. Information is also on www.hadrianhealthcentre.co.uk.
The new facilities are set to transform healthcare services in the area as it brings together local clinicians and a range of community health services all together in a convenient location for the local community, as well as helping the further regeneration of Wallsend town centre.
We will be managing the building as the long-term property partner to the GPs.
It is expected an official opening will take place in the new year once all services have moved in.