After more than 40 years of health service provision at their current site, St Hilary Brow Group Practice has moved to new purpose built premises. Primary care property developer and investor, Assura Group, has completed the £2.5m development to relocate the practice in Wallasey.
Opened by Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS and NHSCBA, on 20th July, the new centre is home for the freshly named St Hilary Group Practice which was formerly located on two separate sites on Wallasey Road.
The development comprises a new 1,050 sq m two storey primary care centre in addition to a 80 sq m single storey pharmacy. The state of the art practice will provide integrated community services and also offer additional diagnostic services such as ultrasound. A minor surgery suite will also operate on site.
Commenting on the new medical centre, Sir David said: “I am very pleased to declare that one of the most advanced NHS primary care centres in the North West is now open. The new facilities will enable staff to offer an exceptional level of care to patients in Wallasey.”
Dr James Kingsland, senior partner at St Hilary Group Practice, said: “The practice has been completed to an extremely high standard. The extended services offered at the new centre will allow us to make speedier diagnoses, make more specific use of hospital resources and allow us to complete episodes of care in one location.
“We have had fantastic support from our patient representative group who independently arranged with the council to have a bus route redirected to pass the surgery ensuring easy access for patients and staff. I am delighted to be able to practice in a place where there is such a sense of community.”
The building has been constructed with a number of different finishes including brickwork, cladding, stonework, render and glazing. The building has also been built with sustainability in mind and meets the industry environmental BREEAM criteria of ‘very good’.
Amanda Horley, property manager at Assura Group, said: “There have been plans to merge St Hilary’s two sites for a number of years, but the timing was never quite right. The design of the healthcare centre has been developed in close consultation with the four GP Partners and Practice Manager at the surgery, as well as the wider practice team and patient representative group to ensure that the new medical centre provides what the community needs.”
Phil Lilley, director of LSP Developments, the healthcare property developer that worked alongside Assura Group, said: “Seeing the plans come to fruition has been very satisfying. The nature of the site was not straightforward due to its topography and close proximity to the church. Despite this, we have delivered a centre to the highest standard.”
The pharmacy unit on site is let to J. Cubbins & Sons, a local independent pharmacy. The building was designed by West Hart Architects and built by contractor Pochin Construction.