A turf-cutting ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on a new health centre development in Newcastle.
Construction of the purpose-built primary care centre in Chapel House was attended by Dr Hari Shukla, a patient of the Parkway Surgery, one of the practices that will use the building; together with staff and representatives from estates solutions specialist, Ashley House, and landlord, Assura Group.
The new medical facility will replace Parkway and Holmside surgeries and will be located on the site of the old clinic and church hall, providing more than 1500sq m of space for primary care, a pharmacy and additional self-contained rooms for other healthcare providers.
The building is being developed by Galliford Try and is expected to open in late Autumn 2013.
Amanda Roddy, development manager at Assura Group, said: “We are very pleased to start on site at Chapel House, with the new development providing cohesive and modern medical services in one convenient location. With two GP surgeries and a pharmacy on site, the residents in the surrounding area will be very well provided for, and we look forward to project completion in 2013."
Gail Mosley, director of Ashley House, added: “It has taken five years to reach this very exciting stage and we are delighted to see the project now start on site. We look forward to seeing the GPs and their patients enjoying and benefitting from the new premises next year. The completed building will be an important new healthcare facility for the patients and staff and a development we are very proud to be associated with.”
