Work has finally started on a new £3.8m doctor’s surgery in Kingsway, Gloucester.

The new premises will serve the people of Kingsway and the surrounding area, and will be run by Rosebank Health, which already operates Rosebank Surgery, Stroud Road and Severnvale Surgery, Quedgeley.

The new surgery will have capacity to cater for around 13,000 patients, significantly improving access to GP services for the local population. It is anticipated that Rosebank Health’s total number of patients will rise up to 30,000 across its three sites over the next few years.

The turf was cut by representatives from local building contractors E G Carter & Co Ltd, Property Adviser company GVA, the Clinical Commissioning Group, the Patient Participation Group, Rosebank Health and local councillors.

The new building, which will take around 12 months to complete, will be built to modern, state-of-the-art specifications, and will include ten consulting rooms alongside four rooms which can be used flexibly for treatments and minor operations.

There will also be first-rate facilities for reception and administration staff as well as an on-site pharmacy.

Dr Jon Unwin, Senior Partner at Rosebank Health said: “With several new housing developments anticipated in the area over the next few years and a growing population, the new surgery, which will be located off Rudloe Drive, will be ideally located to provide primary care services for the local area for years to come. It will be very closely linked to the existing Rosebank Health Surgeries to ensure the right support and services are in place.”

Wyndham Parry, Practice Manager at Rosebank Health said: “We aim to create an attractive, modern, light and airy building which will be welcoming to both patients and staff. We are really pleased that building work is finally underway, and are excited to see how the building progress over the coming months.”

The development also includes training and meeting rooms, which will facilitate education and shared learning. These facilities will also allow other health and social care professionals and specialists to provide services for the local people.

Rosebank Health anticipates that the building will be available for use from autumn 2018.

Property adviser GVA has been working with Rosebank Health on the delivery of the new surgery, including architectural services, site purchase and planning.

Matthew Culverwell, Senior Building Surveyor at GVA, said: “We’re delighted to see work start on site – the next step in realising Rosebank Health’s long held vision for state-of-the-art premises for patients and staff. We’ve been working closely with the GPs for a number of years and this is a great example of how we are able to offer clients a full service across different specialist disciplines.”

Ian Brown, Director at E G Carter & Co Ltd said “We are delighted to be partnering with Rosebank Surgery having worked for them on previous projects. The Kingsway Surgery will provide a much-needed medical premises to serve the growing community. As a local resident living in Kingsway, it is another big step forward in developing the ‘village’”

Director of Primary Care at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Helen Goodey said: “This development is really positive news for the local area, and will mean that patients can benefit from modern facilities that support the provision of high quality care. The new premises will also offer an attractive work environment for GPs and other members of the practice team. We are really pleased to see the start of work on site. The CCG is also working on a number of other surgery developments and improvements across the county.”

Gloucester city councillor Richard Cook (C, Kingsway) said patients in Kingsway have to go to Quedgeley, Tuffley or even Stonehouse to see their doctors at the moment.

He said: "Waiting times in local surgeries are very lenghty so this is absolutely essential. It's just something that will be such a benefit to the community. A lot of people don't have access to cars so sometimes it's an awkward bus journey (to reach GP surgeries)."
The surgery will be ready for handover in November 2018