Healthy diagnosis as £9m GP development is given the go ahead

» A £9million health centre which will serve 25,000 people in Cheltenham has been given the go-ahead.

The development, which will replace three town centre practices, is planned to be built in a brand new purpose-built centre in Prestbury Road.

The GP practices set to close as a result of the new health centre are Berkeley Place, Crescent Bakery and Royal Crescent.

NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said planning permission has been granted for the scheme.

This means the building work can now progress, and the CCG said it could be operational by 2021 and will serve 25,000 people in the town.

The new centre is being built to cope with an increasing population, the CCG said, adding the current practices have “outgrown” their premises.

The extra space will be used for additional consulting and treatment rooms, they will be able to share resources and work more flexibly, offering extended opening times to patients.

The CCG said it will also enable significantly more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to receive training, while the improved reception and waiting areas will be more comfortable for patients and staff alike.

Dr Jim Ropner, GP at Berkeley Place Surgery, said: “We are delighted that that this new health centre can become a reality, and look forward to moving forward with our plans to bring much needed, modern and spacious premises to the area.

Director of primary care at the CCG, Helen Goodey said: “The new health centre will be modern, spacious and environmentally friendly, and will enable doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to offer a broader range of services to patients.”

The development is part of wider plans to improve GP premises across the county.