26 September 2007
The company behind the scheme to build a new health centre in the centre of Redditch has this week revealed more details and says the centre would be an outstanding example of modern health care provision.
Assura Property, one of the UK’s leading investors in primary care premises for GP practices, is in the process of acquiring the Car Park 7 site in the town centre and working with its chosen developer, Abstract Integrated Healthcare, to progress the scheme which is currently in for planning consent.
The vision for the proposed Redditch Health Centre is to bring together three or more GP practices in one building so that an extended range of primary care services can be provided with more and better facilities so that more patients can be examined, diagnosed and even treated in the one location.
Assura say this is in line with NHS policy to provide more locally accessible services for patients closer to the community.
The plan is to provide 6,000sq metres of healthcare accommodation over four floors including an integrated pharmacy and café - with full disabled access and substantial car parking.
Assura is currently consulting with several local GP practices, including St Stephen’s Surgery, Hillview Medical Centre and The Bridge Surgery, about relocation and there will be ongoing discussions about the facilities, internal design and car parking for staff and visitors. The centre would be well located for public transport and pedestrian access will be promoted.
A spokesman for Assura Property said: “As well as providing an outstanding, high quality medical centre, this scheme would be a positive and substantial investment in the area and a major improvement to a site which is in a poor state and underused.”
Dr Jonathan Wells, a partner at Hillview Medical Centre commented: “Patients will continue to have ready access to their own doctors as now, plus a wider range of services and from far better premises that will be purpose built for the delivery of modern primary healthcare services.”
The proposed new building would be designed to be welcoming, uplifting and stimulating for patients and staff, say the developers, and the contemporary design will use natural light and ventilation with a strong focus on sustainability.
Assura is also consulting with the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and the local acute hospital trust to ensure the right balance of service is achieved within overall local and national NHS policy.
ENDS.
Press enquiries regarding Assura Group and Assura Property to:
Andrew McKeon, AJM Public Relations.
Tel: 01423 734 560;
Mobile: 07802 484 155
Louise Bathersby, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3830
Note to editors:
Assura Property is currently over half way through a £750 million investment programme into new and existing primary care centres across the UK. It has already committed investment in over 120 premises. Assura Property is a division of the Assura Group whose investments also include pharmacies, community hospitals and joint venture partnerships with GPs.
