PLANS have been submitted for a multi-million pound Stourport Medical Centre to replace two of the town's doctors' surgeries.
Wyre Forest Health Partnership, which includes the doctors and staff of Stourport Health Centre and York House Medical Centre, has officially lodged a planning application to merge the two sites into a new state-of-the-art facility in Dunley Road, which will care for 21,5000 patients.
Health bosses say the centre, which has been years in the making, will enhance healthcare for Stourport's residents and should be up and running by spring 2021.
Tristan Brodie, Stourport GP and NHS Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group governing body member, said: “The new medical centre will be a great enhancement to healthcare for local residents and the CCG is pleased to have been able to support this new development by securing the national capital funding and raise additional revenue.
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“We have enjoyed working with developers and architects to create the plans for a wonderful building. It will provide a high quality environment so we can attract staff to work with us.
"Both practices are incredibly proud of the high quality care provided to their patients; the new building will help to drive through further improvements in primary care delivery.
“The two practices have worked closely for several years, overseen by a shared manager. Ever closer links have been fostered, including the sharing of staff and best practice.
"We feel that through this approach, along with the new building, we will succeed in offering our patients an even better service.
"We have always endeavoured to innovate in order to guarantee access and quality of care.
"We will finally have a modern building that will support these efforts. The new building will enable us to do more.”
Stourport Medical Centre will be located south of the town bridge, near to The Old Beams Pub, and health bosses say they considered 12 different locations but were limited by the 1.3 acres required for the new build, and the prices owners wanted for their land.
The lease on the current Stourport Health Centre in Worcester Street expires in 2021, and Worcestershire County Council previously estimated it would cost more than £1million to renovate.
Both of the existing surgery buildings are said to be "not fit for purpose" and neither meet current standards for universal access and infection control.
The new centre will provide a wider range of treatments and services and include an on-site pharmacy and increased parking provision.
Clare Nock, chief executive officer for Wyre Forest Health Partnership, said: “It has taken several years to get to this point. Getting NHS approval and funding for the scheme and finding a suitable location for the new building has proved very challenging.
“Wyre Forest Health Partnership has new purpose-built quality accommodation in Bewdley Medical Centre and Kidderminster Medical Centre.
"It was important to us that our Stourport patients should enjoy the same facilities and opportunities as our other patients.
“We are fortunate to be able to bring the experience of those two developments into the development of Stourport Medical Centre.”
They said the spring 2021 deadline is an "ambitious aim" set by the wider NHS.
Public engagement events will be held within the next month to keep patients informed on the proposal's progress.
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