Hadrian Health Centre in Wallsend town centre has opened its doors to its first patients today (19 December).
The centre is the new home of local GP practices, Park Road Medical Centre and Portugal Place Health Centre, who have now merged as Hadrian Health Centre.
The £9.5 million development is in the heart of Wallsend near The Forum shopping centre. The move helps the long-term sustainability of both practices enabling them to offer high quality and modern health services for their patients into the future. This was difficult in their old premises which were ageing, lacked adequate space and both access and parking for patients visiting the surgeries were a challenge.
The new practice occupies the whole of the ground floor along with some space on the first floor. The remaining first and second floor of the building will be occupied by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Some of their community services will be moving into the building in the new year, with the trust keeping patients updated about these services.
Dr Joo Li Ng, GP from Hadrian Health Centre said: "We've finally moved, this is a big day for us, our patients and everyone involved in this project. Now we've got first class facilities which can offer a full range of primary care services alongside a range of community healthcare services that will come on board soon.
"Our old sites were no-longer fit for purpose so its exciting to be in this fantastic, modern building in the heart of Wallsend. I'm sure our patients will love it as much as our staff do."
The building has been built to modern, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art specifications including solar panels to limit the electricity required from the grid and reducing carbon footprint. It includes both consulting and treatment rooms, light and airy spaces for patients and good access for disabled people and those with young children due to wider doors/corridors and the provision of lifts. There is also dedicated training areas for the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Anya Paradis, director of place, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said: "These new facilities are set to transform healthcare services in the area as it brings together local clinicians and a range of community health services all together in a convenient location for the local community, as well as helping the further regeneration of Wallsend town centre."
The building will be managed by Assura, a national primary care premises specialist who have funded the development and who will be the long-term property partner to the GPs.
Andrew Cooper, Assura development director, said: “This development could not have been delivered without the hard work and dedication of all parties involved. This state-of-the-art facility will support long-term delivery of primary and community care services in Wallsend, and we are absolutely delighted to be able to hand over the keys to the GPs at Hadrian Health Centre and Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT.”
Building of the new centre was led by North East firm Esh Construction. Grant Whyte, project manager at Esh Construction, said: “We are delighted to bring the Hadrian Health Centre project to completion and handover this important community facility to health services. Throughout the development we focussed on several key social value initiatives to ensure we leave a positive legacy within the local community long after completion.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
With thanks to NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB for providing this article