17 September 2007
The finishing touches are being made this week in readiness for the opening to patients of a brand new primary care centre in Crown Heights in the centre of Basingstoke.
Dickson House, as it will be called, will provide much needed spacious and modern accommodation for two local GPs practices, Bramblys Grange and Church Grange. The new centre has been funded and developed by Assura Property, one of the UK’s leading investors in primary care premises for GPs, in conjunction with PMP Healthcare Developments.
Both the GP practices are well established with a long and valued tradition of providing healthcare to the population of Basingstoke and the surrounding area. They currently occupy 1960s premises which are well below present day standards to deliver healthcare for their 32,000 patients.
The new premises in Dickson House will not only meet all the requirements of both practices but provide additional space to meet the increasing demand from a growing population.
Both practices are currently seeing to final fittings and furnishings and organising the transfer. Each practice will continue to operate as before and have their own separate reception and waiting areas for patients in different parts of the building. The Bramblys Grange practice will open it doors to patients on Monday September 24. The Church Grange practice will follow a week later on October 1 when it will change its name to the Crown Heights Medical Centre.
Commenting on the new health centre, Tim Meggitt, managing director of Assura Property said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the two practices and their patients into the new centre which we are confident they will find a huge improvement on their old premises. There is full disabled access, with good access to convenient public transport and car parking. We have worked closely with the doctors to design a building which provides the best environment for patients and staff and to meet new developments in NHS primary care services now and for a long time to come.”
Dr Tania Phillips, a partner at the Bramblys Grange practice, said: “The new surgery is everything we could have hoped for. It has taken a huge amount of input and support to achieve this fantastic facility. It provides good quality surroundings for our patients and staff, with sufficient flexibility and space for providing additional services in the future. We are looking forward to continuing the care of our patients who have been very supportive through this transition as well as welcoming new patients to our surgery.”
Dr Andrew Cole, a partner at the Church Grange Practice said: “The new centre will enable us to continue to improve on our current high standards, practising good patient care from safe modern surroundings, giving us the ability to improve and expand as well as setting up new services for the local population.”
Bramblys Grange will have 12 consulting rooms, phlebotomy rooms and a minor surgery suite. Crown Heights Medical Centre, formerly Church Grange, will have 14 consulting rooms, six rapid access multipurpose rooms, a phlebotomy room and a minor surgery suite. This is a huge improvement for both practices who have struggled for suitable space for many years.
In addition Assura has built additional space within the building for other primary care services to be provided in the future closer to the community in line with Government policy for the NHS.
ENDS.
Press enquiries Assura Property:
Andrew McKeon, AJM Public Relations.
Tel: 0113 293 9950;
Mobile: 07802 484 155;
Louise Bathersby, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3830
NOTES TO EDITORS
Assura Property, is a division of Assura Group, one of the UK’s leading investors in primary care premises and which is currently over half way through a £750 million investment programme. It has already committed investment in over 120 premises across the UK and works in partnership with GPs and health professionals to deliver primary care property, pharmacy and medical services across the UK.
