Plans to merge GP practices at new health hub
STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY TO EASE ‘STRETCHED’ SERVICES
PLANS have been revealed for a ‘state-of-the-art’ healthcare hub which will provide a new home for two GP practices currently operating from ‘entirely unsuitable’ premises.
The proposals would see a three-storey centre built at the Parkside Stables site, off Newhey Road, in the Milnrow area of Rochdale.
It would provide a much-needed replacement health facility for Milnrow Village Practice and Stonefield Street Surgery, both of which are ‘stretched’ and operating above capacity.
The scheme is being driven by GPs at the two surgeries together with United Healthcare Developments – and also has the backing of the borough’s clinical commissioning group (CCG).
A statement submitted with the planning application states that both practices ‘urgently require additional space to meet demand while maintaining the quality of service and care for patients.’
It adds that investing in alterations to the current premises would only deliver a ‘short term, temporary solution,’ meaning the only realistic option is to relocate the surgeries elsewhere in the catchment area.
Setting out the benefits of the proposed facility, which would accommodate 82 employees, it states: “The Milnrow Health Hub will consolidate both practices in a state-of-the-art facility to better meet patient needs.
“Furthermore, it will allow the practices to meet growing patient demand whilst offering additional and expanded wrap-around care to the benefit of patients. In turn this can improve health and wellbeing in the area.”
The new ‘integrated’ hub – which also boasts a pharmacy – would allow services to be provided which are currently restricted due to a lack of adequate space and facilities. Set out across three floors, it features consulting and examination spaces, treatment rooms and a minor operations facility, while administration and amenity spaces are provided at various levels.
There would be 68 car parking bays – of which six are disabled – four motorcycle spaces, 14 cycle spaces and one delivery space.
The three-quarter acre site close to Milnrow Memorial Park was chosen as the most appropriate for the hub after a ‘lengthy and thorough’ search was carried out.
It is situated in the green belt, which means ‘very special circumstances’ will have to be proven for planning permission to be granted. But the applicants remain confident the proposals will get the green light.