WORK is under way on a £2.5m surgery which will revolutionise healthcare in the Castle and Winnington areas of Northwich.
The Firdale Road Medical Centre will relocate the doctors, currently working in the inadequate premises of the ageing Castle Surgery, into a state-of-the-art building.
A ground-breaking ceremony yesterday marked the start of construction of the centre and was attended by about 50 people including doctors and other healthcare professionals who will move into their new home next year.
The centre has been designed for up to six GPs and there will be other healthcare professionals working from the centre, including district nurses, health visitors and members of the Occupational Health Team. It will have an 8,000-strong patient list.
Doctors and patients fought a long campaign for the move.
Nicola Morgan of the Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust said: 'It's difficult for GPs and patients to continue working and visiting the old surgery. They have been patient as it has been a long process, we are delighted we can finally go forward with this programme.
Bob Smaylen, managing director of Sapphire Primary Care Developments which is carrying out the work, said: 'Patients will have access to a larger range of healthcare services and better facilities. The greater size of the new medical centre means it will be possible for the healthcare professionals to offer services to increased patient numbers.'
