Plans for the GP surgery to move into a new home has been delayed until December 19.
THE much-delayed opening of a new GP surgey in Gabalfa has been delayed for a second time because waste needs to be removed from land opposite the building.
The opening of the new medical centre on Sachville Avenue was originally scheduled for the end of November, but was delayed until December 12 when staff did not recieve keys as planned.
The move from the current building – on Whitchurch Road – has now been delayed a second time due to the “remediation of allotment land opposite the new surgery,” said Gareth Lucocq, the surgery’s Practice Manager. This may include the removal of waste and any pollutants.
Mr Lucocq said: “I’m sure patients will be frustrated at the delay, its something that I feel also. I have been manager at the surgery for three years now and it has been my number one priority since joining here. Everyone at the surgery is ready to move into the new building and are looking forward to be able to provide excellent healthcare in a fantastic environment.”
Due to the land clearance everything from furniture delivery, to IT installation and the moving of furniture from one building to another has had to be rearranged.
The current old surgery has continued to operate on the scaled back, emergency-only appointments system it has been operating since late November.
The new site will include nine consulting rooms, a baby feeding room, a plant room, and a staff break out area, as well as an incorporated pharmacy, 26 parking spaces, and bike racks for staff and patients.
Mr Lucocq said that alongside these rooms the surgery hopes to include a spirometry clinic and a physio clinic.
The new building is considerably larger than the current one, which comprises two Victorian houses, and the surgery hopes to expand their patient list, employ more staff and GPs in the long term.
Medi Let, a subsidiary of Cardiff-based Letting Station, will oversee the development of the old surgery building.
Medi Let manages properties which prioritise housing for medical students and staff at the University Hospital of Wales and currently oversees more than 200 properties.
The current plan by the new owner is to develop the first floor into five one-bedroom flats and planning permission has been granted for the ground floor to be turned into a café.
MW Phillips Chemist, currently on Whitchurch Road opposite the old surgery, will be the resident pharmacy in the new development. However, staff there say they don’t know when they will be able to move into the new building and have not heard anything about their start date although they hope the transition will be smooth.
The new address for the surgery is:
Whitchurch Road Surgery
Sachville Avenue
Cardiff CF14 3NY
02921 851190
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