Good progress is being made on the new medical centre in Hereford. Despite a short delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the centre is on track to be completed in Autumn 2020. The new modern surgery will provide an innovative change to healthcare in Hereford.
Following the COVID-19 shutdown, contractor Speller Metcalfe restarted construction on site at the end of April. Workers are complying with the Construction Leadership Council’s guidance document which introduced consistent measures on construction sites, of all types and sizes, in line with the Government’s recommendations on social distancing. The design of the surgery has also evolved to respond to the pandemic, with protective guards to be fitted around the reception desk and surfaces finished in materials designed to withstand hypochlorite cleaning which ensures infection control.
The external envelope of the building is now complete and watertight. Works are progressing inside the building, with doors fitted and floor coverings laid. PV solar panels on the roof are currently being installed to provide the centre with clean energy.
The construction of Station Medical Centre is made possible by a £9m deal with Assura secured by health and care property developer Prime and the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Services to be housed in the new surgery include diabetes, midwifery and cardiology clinics, family planning, routine GP appointments and GP urgent care clinics.
Dr Jonathan Duffett, GP Partner at Hereford Medical Group said: “We are really looking forward to moving into the new medical centre later this year. This modern, made for purpose, primary care building will be a huge benefit to Hereford. It provides us with an appropriate environment to deliver quality healthcare for decades to come with better facilities, accessibility and the flexibility to change with future needs.
The completion of the Station Medical Centre comes at a time when local access to health services has never been more important.”
Mark Hudgeon, Regional Director at Speller Metcalfe said: “At the start of the pandemic Speller Metcalfe paused operations so that we could implement measures to ensure the safe working of our site team, and consequently the health of their families and the local community.
As a family business our approach has always been with our people and communities in mind, and we are delighted that the centre is on track to deliver a wide variety of health and care provision for the residents of Hereford.”
The Hereford Medical Group will be practicing at the modern surgery once it is complete. This purpose-built facility will make a positive change to the delivery of GP services in the community, making them more sustainable and efficient, and improving the patient experience when seeing their local healthcare teams.
