A ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of building works on Montpelier’s much-needed new health centre has taken place.
The two-storey community surgery will have six consulting rooms, a treatment room, pharmacy and staff facilities. It will enable existing services to be transferred from the Sussex Place Branch surgery. The project is due for completion in the autumn.
Working on the project are property advisers GVA and regional contractor Henry. W Pollard & Sons.
Montpelier Health Centre partner Dr Kim Hearn said at the ceremony: “We are very excited about this project and look forward to the completion of this new surgery which will provide modern facilities for patients from our branch surgery but encompass their wish to remain in a small practice.
"We would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this stage, Bristol PCT for all their support and guidance and our professional team who have kept us on track over many months during the planning and design phase. Lloyds Pharmacy will be relocating their very small pharmacy a few yards away to work alongside us as part of the new building and this will enable them to provide a more comprehensive service to many of their customers. We are aware that building work is disruptive and that our neighbours will be inconvenienced at times but we are sure that the end result will make it all worthwhile for all of us”.
Pollard managing director Bill Badham commented: “Everyone has worked extremely hard to arrive at this point, with the ground breaking ceremony being the next significant milestone in ensuring our client’s vision becomes a reality.
"We are delighted to have been appointed for this project as it allows us to continue the close working relationship we have with GVA, with whom we are currently working on a number of medical centres. This experience and team work will be key to us achieving our goals and we look forward to handing over this important facility to our client later this year."
Melvyn Thomas, project manager with GVA in Bristol, said: “ We have been working closely with the GPs from inception through design and planning, to project management on site – integrating the various challenges and needs to provide contemporary healthcare facilities with a high level of sustainability standards within an established conservation area and community environment. I am delighted that our national specialist health care team has been able to assist the GPs in this challenging development."
