GPs' centres set to merge.
A NEW £3m doctors’ surgery could
be built in Chipping Norton to replace two cramped facilities in the town. The
scheme would replace the West Street and White House surgeries to create the
modern Chipping Norton Health Park in Russell Way.
Across 2,000sqm and three floors,
the new surgery will include 18 consulting rooms, 16 clinical rooms and a
pharmacy. Plans also include a 64-space car park, bicycle park and ambulance
drop-off point. West Street and White House surgeries currently serve 14,300
people in Chipping Norton, but struggles with good access for the disabled,
shortage of consulting and administration space and cramped car parks.
The planning application said
both surgeries have expanded several times but are now “unfit for delivery of
modern medical care”, “cramped and short of space”, and further extension is
not possible. It added: “The aspirations for the design of the scheme were to
provide a landmark, contemporary, 21st Century healthcare building with
clinical functionality and improved patient experience at its core.” Chipping
Norton mayor said: “The scheme will have a lot better parking
for a start. It is not brilliant at the moment if you go at busy times. “I hope
the new surgery will improve the facilities in the town and it will put all the
medical facilities together. It is a logical progression.” But he added: “It
will affect a lot of people from the far side of town, who will have a lot
further to go. Not everyone will be happy with the positioning.”
A statement by Dr David Edwards,
from White House Surgery, and Dr Jane Pargeter, from West Street Surgery, said:
“Both practices are delighted that we are able to take the next step towards
our new development, with the submission of this planning application. “White
House and West Street surgeries currently operate out of different premises
which do not suit the needs of today’s healthcare requirements and, as such,
our proposed new building will be a fantastic resource for our patients and
staff.” GVA, which was involved in the Windrush Health Centre development in
Witney, has been advising both surgeries and managing the project. Director Tim
Scruton said: “It is great that we have finally been able to submit a detailed
planning application for this modern new facility, designed to the highest
environmental standards and suitable for 21st century medical care.”
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