Mitcham and Morden MP, Siobhan McDonagh, has opened our transformation of a South London GP surgery – cutting the ribbon on new consulting rooms and space for extra services and minor operations on site.
Our extension of Wide Way Medical Centre in Merton – one of the biggest for an existing primary care building – has given the surgery’s team five new patient consultation rooms, a minor operations suite and a conference room, as well as improved reception, waiting and admin areas.
With investment from NHS England’s London Improvement Grant Fund, the practice itself and from us as the building’s owners, the project has given the surgery almost 200m2 of extra space to serve nearly 9,000 patients, allowing for seven day access to primary care, working collaboratively and in partnership with local practices and providers across health and social care as a hub for seamless integrated care, as well as providing social prescribing and supporting self-care.
Managing Partner Mariam Ganesaratnam says: “This is the culmination of years of planning and cooperation to give us the space we need to continue providing primary care to our patients without having to close lists. This extension will also take our services into the future of primary care, allowing us to deliver care closer to home for thousands more patients in Merton.”
Head of Primary Care for NHS England (South London), William Cunningham-Davis, says: “This is a great example of the London Improvement Grant funding in action – helping a practice create the extra space it needs right now, but also to help them deliver care for the future as technology and services evolve around general practice. We’ve seen huge demand for this funding from practices right across the capital.”
Our Senior Development Manager, Andrew Cooper says: “So many GP surgeries are struggling for space and finding solutions for them is going to be critical if the NHS is to achieve its aims of moving care closer to home and expanding access to general practice. We’re very proud to have helped to make this project possible.”
Dr Karen Worthington, Merton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) East Merton Locality Lead and Clinical Director says: “We welcome this expansion at Wide Way which is part of a range of proposals to improve health services for Merton residents. It will enhance patient care and experience as well as making it easier to see a healthcare professional locally.”
Plans for the development were drawn up by West Hart Partnership and the build was led by Paramount South East.