‘Counting the days’ to GP surgery’s opening
Transformation of ex-hospital
NEW windows, a new roof, two new extensions and plastering from floor to ceiling are just some of the work that has been done to convert a former hospital into a new GP surgery.
Contractors Mountjoy have been transforming the former Victoria Cottage Hospital into a new GP surgery for Emsworth after GPs, staff and patients struggled to cope on their cramped existing site over the road in North Street.
Campaigners spent months trying to secure the former hospital site for the new surgery.
The hospital building was put up for sale in July 2018, after it was decommissioned and closed i n April 2013, and campaigners managed to fight to secure the site for the new surgery, which is hoped to be completed in March 2021 as part of a £3.5m scheme.
Dr Abu Chinwala, a partner at Emsworth Surgery, said: ‘We’ve had such a long and at times frustrating wait for a new home. But we are counting the days now.
‘This is good news for us as GPs and every member of our staff, who just want to be able to offer our patients the best possible primary care services and facilities that we can. But most importantly, it’s great news for our patients.
‘The practice had 2,000 patients when we opened. We have 13,000 now.
‘We just could not have coped much longer on our existing site.’
Builders have demolished a number of single-storey outbuildings to make way for a new rear single-storey extension to the main building and the team has also installed a new lift shaft.
Sara Tiller, managing director of NHS South East Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see a vision turn into reality.
‘It’s a win/win situation – great news for all those people who campaigned so strongly to keep the surgery in the heart of their community; great news for the GPs who wanted to provide modern and accessible premises with space to expand; and great news for patients.’
Adam Shepheard, principal construction manager for NHS Property Services added: ‘The community will now benefit from a modern, fit-for-purpose GP surgery that serves the healthcare needs for patients and a better working environment for staff.’