£6m health centre plan as three GP surgeries to merge
Three GP surgeries will merge as part of plans to create a £6 million health care complex.
The new £5.9m Walsall Road Medical Practice will also include a pharmacy and other care services, creating a 'one-stop' health centre. The new complex is due to be completed by January 2014.
The new site, which is on the Perry Barr/Great Barr border will cater for hundreds of patients and will see Tower Hill Medical Centre in Tower Hill, Great Barr, Great Barr Surgery and High Trees Surgery on Walsall Road, Perry Barr, brought under one roof.
The aim is for the practices to be based on a larger site to offer a wider range of services .
Dr Sirjit Bath from Tower Hill Medical Centre said: "The new centre will see an integration of the practices in order to meet the growing needs of the local community, creating a 'one stop' primary care facility for the people of Great Barr and the surrounding area.
"Our new facility will have sufficient accommodation to house other healthcare providers including a pharmacy and district nurses as well as other services which in some cases will mean local people can see specialists without having to go to the hospital. In addition we will be extending our opening hours resulting in more appointments being available for our patients."
Great Barr with Yew Tree ward Councillor Steve Melia, said: "Any expansion of services is to be encouraged. We do encourage the extra surgeries and medical services."
The new scheme is being supported by Barclays bank, whose relationship director Julian Kilsby, said: "Barclays has supported a number of GP schemes in the region and demonstrates our appetite within the healthcare sector to support projects which benefit the local community and economy."
