Bloxwich surgery big enough for 3,000 given nod
A permanent doctor's surgery for up to 3,000 patients will open in Bloxwich after receiving the go-ahead from council planners.
The two-storey building and a pharmacy will be built in Fisher Road and replace a temporary surgery which opened in spring last year.
It comes after the Abbey Square Centre, which previously served the Mossley estate, was forced to move when the lease on the building expired several years ago.
Lichfield Street Surgery was awarded the contract by Walsall Primary Care Trust to provide services on the Mossley estate.
The plans have now been granted permission by Walsall Council under delegated powers and been hailed as a boost to the area.
Councillor Fred Westley said: "I am totally in favour of the new building. We have campaigned to keep facilities in Bloxwich West.
"It will be of benefit for the people of Bloxwich West and they won't need to go to the Pinfold centre. It is going to be a lot easier for patients. I am hoping by 2014 it will be up and running."
Head of planning David Elsworthy added: "The principle of development of the site for a doctors surgery was established through the previous temporary consent.
"The proposals will provide a permanent facility that will meet an identified local need within the area that it would serve.
"The pharmacy will operate for prescriptions only and remain ancillary to the doctors' surgery use with the same opening hours."
The temporary facility was opened off Fisher Road, Bloxwich, last year and plans were then put together to build a new two-storey permanent surgery and single-storey pharmacy on the same site.
The temporary surgery is due to continue to operate on the site while the permanent surgery is being developed. It would then be converted to car parking and ancillary space.
The new surgery will include GP and nurse consulting rooms at ground floor level, a reception and waiting area with staff admin facilities, toilets and changing rooms and dirty and clean utility room. At first floor level, there will be a staff room, kitchen, staff toilets, plant room, staff meeting rooms and administrative space.
At present the temporary surgery serves between 2,700-3,000 patients and is staffed by up to 10 members of staff at any one time. It is anticipated that the patient list will grow once the surgery is established.
The Mossley and Dudley Fields Patients Advisory Group is due to hold its AGM in Mattesley Court, Cresswell Crescent, on June 27 where representations in support of what should be provided at the surgery will be made.
