Plans for a new £9m health centre development in Cheltenham have moved a step forward this week thanks to formal approval being granted by the NHS Primary Care Commissioning Committee.

The new centre will see three town centre practices, Berkeley Place, Crescent Bakery and Royal Crescent, relocate to a brand new purpose-built centre on Prestbury Road.

The news means that, subject to planning approval from the Local Authority, the new centre could be operational by 2021, providing GP services to around 25,000 patients.

The three practices have outgrown their current premises, and with the population of Cheltenham continuing to increase, the practices and local Clinical Commissioning Group identified the need to move to more modern premises that are fit for purpose.

The new premises will transform GP services in this part of Cheltenham. The extra space will be used for additional consulting and treatment rooms which will enable the practices to meet growing demands and offer a broader range of services to patients, for example, through support from nurses, paramedics and pharmacists. They will also be able to share resources and work more flexibly, offering extended opening times to patients.

It will also enable significantly more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to receive training, whilst the improved reception and waiting areas will be more comfortable for patients and staff alike.

Dr Jim Ropner, GP at Berkeley Place Surgery, said:

“If we are able to move to a new building it will help us to meet the ever-increasing health and care needs of our patients, ensuring that we can continue to provide high quality services for years to come.”

Director of Primary Care at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Helen Goodey said:

“The Primary Care Commissioning Committee of NHS Gloucestershire CCG endorsed the proposals in January 2019 and we are delighted that this development is moving forward.

The new health centre will be modern, spacious and environmentally friendly, and will enable doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to offer a broader range of services to patients.”

This development is part of wider plans to improve GP premises across the county.