A Felixstowe doctors' surgery has been given the go-ahead for a major expansion, described as 'fantastic news' by a healthcare chief.
East Suffolk Council has permitted Haven Health in Grange Farm Avenue to build two small extensions and reconfigure the existing internal space to meet the town's growing population, with thousands of new homes on the way.
The expansion will provide five additional consulting rooms, bringing the total number at the surgery to 17 and will enable healthcare provider Suffolk Primary Care, which runs the surgery, to offer more training opportunities.
READ MORE: Suffolk surgery to expand to cope with growing population
Patients will also be able to access additional services.
In October, the EADT reported a statement in support of the plans from the applicant's agent Peter Wells Architects which revealed the surgery, close to the town's Morrisons supermarket, had taken on 1,000 patients following the closure of nearby Walton Surgery.
This influx meant there were now 8,500 patients on Haven Health's books.
Caroline Procter, deputy director of primary care at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “This is fantastic news and we’re so pleased that the expansion work will soon be able to commence.
“Not only will this boost the services on offer to Haven Health patients, but it will also have a wider positive impact on health services locally by increasing the number of training opportunities on offer which will help meet the ever-increasing demand being placed on primary care services.
“We thank everyone at Haven Health for all the work they have done in taking this project forward and their continued commitment to the good health and wellbeing of people in Felixstowe.”
Dr Paul Driscoll, GP partner with Suffolk Primary Care, said the extra space would provide the flexibility to offer more medical students the chance to gain more experience in general practice.
Training could be provided for paramedics, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, mental health workers and social prescribers.
Dr Driscoll said: “We are really pleased that permission has been granted for this extension as it will give us a valuable opportunity to reconfigure the building so that it works more effectively for our patients.
"The extra space will also mean we can host additional services, such as dedicated mental health and physiotherapy clinics."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here