BUILDING work costing £4.5 million will start this week on a new state-of-the art medical centre in Fir Park, Upton Rocks.

The centre will replace the 100-year-old Appleton Village Surgery building which will provide patients with benefits such as a modern spacious waiting area, on-site car parking and improved access for families and disabled patients. It will also provide an on-site pharmacy and negotiations are underway to include a dental practice within the building.

The decision was made to relocate the practice to Upton Rocks following a consultation with patients in 2017 as the current practice is no longer fit for purpose and does not meet the national requirements for patients with disabilities.

Dr Miles Brindle, GP Partner at Appleton Village Surgery said: “We are very excited to be announcing the start of this development which has been many years in planning.

"At our current premises access is a major issue for families with young children and patients with disabilities. By moving to a new purpose- built modern surgery, this will allow us to have the space, waiting areas and car parking facilities that our patients need and deserve. The building will also provide us with the potential to offer more services for our patients in the future.

“The move will also improve the working environment for our current staff and help us to recruit new staff in future by offering better teaching facilities for trainees.”

The build, which is being developed by Allied Pharmacies, has been given the full support of NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group,

Dr. Andrew Davies, Clinical Chief Officer at NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group, added: “We are pleased to be supporting Appleton Village Surgery and working alongside the developers to deliver a much-needed new medical centre that will fully meet the needs of all patients and that the local community can be proud of.”

Patients at Appleton Village Surgery should continue to contact their surgery as normal while work is undertaken and will receive further information prior to the surgery moving into the new building next year. Updates will be provided on the surgery website at: www.appletonvillagesurgery.co.uk.

It is expected to be completed by May 2021.