The ribbon will be cut on a £1.1m transformation of a Leicestershire GP surgery building next week - celebrating more space and better layout for three recently-merged practices now working together from one site.
Long Lane Surgery in Coalville is set to mark the completion of its extension and refurbishment project on Wednesday (12th July) – which has created space for a new minor operations suite, eight new clinical rooms, better admin space and improved waiting areas for its 14,600 patients. As a direct result of NHS England’s commitment set out in the General Practice Forward View, this project is improving patient care and access to GP services.
With investment from NHS England’s multi-million pound Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) and from Assura as the building’s owners, the surgery space has been expanded and fully refurbished to give doctors, nurses, admin staff, receptionists and especially patients fit-for-purpose, clean spaces in which to offer and receive care.
Patients have been at the heart of the project, from helping to shape the design including a ‘drop-off zone’ and an additional bus stop outside, to feeding into work to extend opening times and introduce more services in the new-look building.
Doctor Nick Pulman, lead GP, says: “We now have the space and functionality to take us into the next stages of primary care, and to provide our patients with a whole range of new services closer to home. Our thanks go to the patients who’ve worked closely with us and given so many helpful suggestions to make sure the building works for them, and to North Leicestershire District Council during the planning process.
“NHS England, the Assura team, the practice and builders all worked closely together to make this a reality. This is a phenomenal remodelling – literally moving the walls of the building out in every direction, while service as usual for our patients continued on site.”
With careful planning over the last year, the surgery has been able to continue its work throughout the renovations.
The opening ceremony will be performed by Councillor Dr Terri Eynon. The surgery is pleased to welcome Dr Deviah, GP Partner at Coalville Health Centre, and Dr Hewitt (Senior) who was a GP at Long Lane when the practice first came to the site, back to the surgery for the occasion.
Our development manager, Paul Warwick, says: “One of the most fantastic parts of our work is being able to help GPs make much-needed, long-awaited changes to their buildings, to give them the space and layout they need for the services they’re delivering now and so they have capacity to bring in new services in future. Too many practice teams are struggling on in buildings which just aren’t fit for purpose but with the right support, we can improve surgery spaces so that they work better for the GPs, nurses, health visitors, pharmacists, practice managers, receptionists and patients who use them. We’re very proud to have helped to make this project possible and look forward to continuing to work with the whole team at Long Lane.”
Elliot Howard-Jones, Director of Commissioning Operations for NHS England (Central Midlands) said: “Over the past twelve months we have worked closely with the GPs, their practice staff and Assura to develop the facilities to ensure both patients and staff benefit from the upgraded and improved facilities. GPs and practice teams provide vital services for patients. They are at the heart of our communities. NHS England’s continuing investment in general practice services will help to make sure that GPs and their staff are able to make best use of technologies, in buildings that are fit for purpose, providing good quality and appropriate care at suitable times for their patients.”
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Notes for editors:
- About Assura: We’re the UK’s leading healthcare real estate investment trust, helping GPs and the NHS bring care closer to home by creating the modern, fit-for-purpose buildings that doctors say they urgently need, in the right places for patients. www.assuraplc.com / @assuraplc. For more information, contact: Claire Rick 07856 775495 / [email protected]
- NHS England is the body which leads the NHS in England. Its main aim is to improve the health outcomes for people in England, and it sets the overall direction and priorities for the NHS as a whole. NHS England’s General Practice Forward View
Picture courtesy of Chris Hopkins at West Hart Partnership