Disused medical centre set for £2.2m refurbishment to create GP surgery hub

A VACANT medical centre is being revamped and extended to become a new £2.2million GP surgery in north Bristol.

Planning permission has been granted for Lawrence Weston Clinic as part of a rejig of primary care services in the area.

It will cater for 8,300 patients, with those currently at Ridingleaze Medical Centre and Shirehampton Health Centre’s Capel Road branch surgery moving to the new hub.

Seven consulting rooms will be created in a new clinical wing at the rear of the refurbished building.

Pioneer Medical Group, which will run the clinic, will also free up space for two new consulting rooms at its Bradgate GP surgery by moving admin staff from there to Avonmouth Medical Centre.

A report to Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG’s primary care commissioning committee said the “small, tired and functionally unsuitable” Ridingleaze Medical Centre would be vacated and could be bought by local charity Ambition Lawrence Weston.

It said Lawrence Weston Clinic would be expanded by about half its current floorspace.

“The proposed reconfiguration will comprise a full refurbishment of the existing building to provide a nurse’s suite combined with minor ops facilities and a new reception and waiting area at the front of the building,” the report said.

“New GP clinical accommodation will be provided in a new extension to the rear of the building to provide a modern fully compliant clinical ‘wing’ – this will house a further seven consulting rooms.

“It will also provide physical space for community services to be delivered, eg, diabetic retinopathy, catheter clinics, wound care clinics, drug and alcohol services and psychological therapies for the treatment of diagnosable common mental health conditions.”

CCG committee chairwoman Alison Moon said: “I am very excited to say we are approving the full business case. It is fantastic for that part of our patch.”

Bristol City Council granted planning permission for Lawrence Weston Clinic last month under delegated authority.

The CCG’s committee agreed the full business case on Tuesday, June 30, subject to the approval of NHS England’s Estates and Technology Transformation Fund, which is paying for the scheme and is set to make a decision by July 20.

Building work is scheduled to begin in August and finish next May.

Julia Somerville

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