The £1.38m project is taking place in an area where the population is set to explode
An expansion of a GP practice north of Bristol will deliver 25000 new appointments annually(Image: Getty)
A GP practice in Patchway is set for a huge £1.38m expansion which will allow doctors to carry out almost 25,000 extra patient appointments each year.
Coniston Medical Practice is due to benefit from the expansion works thanks to £916,566 funding from NHS England as well as £468,000 through funding from the Filton Airfield housing development – also known as the new Brabazon town.
The extra capacity will be essential in an area where up to 25,000 new homes are due to be built alongside the highly anticipated Aviva Arena, scheduled to be open in 2028, and the recently-christened Bristol Brabazon train station, which will welcome its first services this autumn.
The works are set to begin in the coming weeks and will involve the conversion of the practice’s vacant pharmacy space to create eight new consulting rooms, bringing the total number of consulting rooms at the practice to 17. This additional space is estimated to deliver 24,960 additional appointments annually.
David Jarrett, Chief Strategic Commissioning Officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said:
“This investment is a significant step forward in improving access to general practice and making the best possible use of our existing NHS facilities. By transforming previously vacant space into eight additional clinical rooms, we are creating meaningful new capacity for patients, strengthening local capacity and easing pressure on existing services.”
As well as the new homes, arena and station, the Brabazon development will also include the construction of 3.6million square feet of commercial building space, and a network of parks, green spaces and community hubs. A 15-acre Brabazon Park and lake will be the largest park to be built in the South West for 50 years.
Councillor Chris Willmore, cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure at South Gloucestershire Council, said it was important to get ahead of the impact of the huge new development by delivering things like extra GP appointments.
“We’re pleased to support the delivery of this project to provide the infrastructure people need as they move into new homes and communities,” he said.
“It is important that schools, community centres and health facilities are delivered alongside new homes and not as an afterthought. Also, that new homes don’t result in unnecessary pressure on existing services.
“The extension to this existing medical practice results in a quicker early delivery of works to mitigate the impact of the housing development whilst providing new facilities for existing residents. This is an important step in making sure all our communities and neighbourhoods are liveable and sustainable.”
Work to create the extra consulting rooms is scheduled to be finished by September.