Wednesbury surgery to expand as patient numbers soar
A medical centre in Wednesbury plans to extend its premises by creating more treatment rooms and facilities after an increase in patients has left them struggling for space.
It will also allow Friar Park Village Medical Centre in Crankhall Lane to add another doctor to their existing team of four and more administration staff.
It comes as more than 2,000 new patients have joined in the last six years.
The single storey extension will comprise of consulting rooms, a treatment room, meeting room, toilets, baby changing facilities and utility space.
Around 35 car parking spaces will be also be provided, with three dedicated disabled parking bays.
Senior partner, Doctor Syed Ahmed, hailed the plans as being 'hugely beneficial' for the area.
He explained: "At present we only have four consultation rooms but we want to be able to provide more services in our practice.
"We would like to add our blood service and a possible chiropody service into the practice too.
"We currently have four doctors, one nurse and two advanced nurses in our team but this will allow us to take another doctor on board.
"It is just the fact that we have run out of space and rooms but then it with the expansion it will mean that each doctor will have their own room and there will be consultation rooms left over."
The centre was built in 2010 with the practice moving to the premises in October of that year.
It is situated on a residential road with a small selection of shops close by.
The design and access statement says that the expansion would also hope to bring 'a measurable reduction in A&E attendances and admissions to hospital'.
Doctor Ahmed added: "In 2010 our build was the only new development for the Friar Park area.
"I am a local lad and have a strong affiliation with the area and to make this practice the best it can be.
"This expansion will be hugely beneficial for the community.
"We have thought long and hard about this expansion and now hopefully we will have the opportunity with help from government funding to take this forward.
"It has also been approved by the CCG.
"We have been hampered due to space but if this gets the go ahead then it will be smashing."
The plans were submitted to Sandwell Council at the end of March.
A decision for approval will be made in the coming weeks.
