NEWS RELEASES
Work well underway for new Steyning Health Centre
11th September 2007
CONSTRUCTION work is now well underway for a brand new Health Centre in Steyning.
Yesterday (Monday 10 September), a turf cutting ceremony took place at the site in Steyning’s Tanyard Lane which also allowed the scheme’s partners to inspect the latest work and see much of the steel framework structure already in place for the new three storey, 2,000 square metre building.
When it is complete in about a year’s time, the new centre will offer primary health care services to over 11,500 local patients in a purpose-built, fully accessible environment.
Amongst those set to benefit are residents in Steyning, Wiston, Bramber, Upper Beeding, Washington, Ashurst and surrounding rural areas served by the GP practice.
Currently patients are receiving services at a temporary site at Fletcher’s Croft in Steyning.
The new and modern Health Centre will offer enough room for eight doctors as well as a commercial pharmacy, NHS dentists and purpose built physiotherapy rooms.
There will also be generous communal and waiting areas and plenty of space for visiting specialists and practitioners plus a base from which teams of community nurses, health visitors and school nurses can operate from.
And Health Centre staff and visitors are also promised distant views across to Chanctonbury Ring and the South Downs from the upper floor level of the building.
The facilities will offer a wider range of primary health care services which will be developed by the local GP Practice and West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) working together with the local community, patients and carers.
The new building replaces an old single storey, 600 square metre Health Centre at the site which included temporary buildings added back in 1992.
The funding for the new build development project has been enabled by Horsham District Council which bought the land and commissioned the building contract. The building will then be leased back to the PCT.
Speaking at the turf cutting on Monday (10 September), Dr Eric Noren, Senior GP Partner at Steyning Health Centre, said:
“Today’s turf cutting at the building site marks a milestone for the GP Practice and we are all looking forward to providing an excellent new healthcare environment for our patients and staff.
“We expect that the new Health Centre will deliver a far wider range of primary health care services.”
Jennie Musgrove, Project Co-ordinator for West Sussex Primary Care Trust, said:
“The strong partnership between Horsham District Council, local councillors, the Steyning GPs, our community Nursing staff and West Sussex Primary Care Trust has been very powerful in enabling the NHS to develop this superb new building.
“I am delighted to see the new building going up at last and to be celebrating this with our team.
“We expect the new Health Centre to open to patients by autumn next year (2008).
“The smaller satellite GP surgery at Upper Beeding will also remain open for the convenience of local people.”
Cllr Brian Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Health at Horsham District Council, added:
“I am really pleased and excited to see the partnership working on this project means that building work on Steyning’s new Health Centre is underway.
“The potential benefits for several thousand residents in the surrounding area are not far away.
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped get the project to this stage and we look forward to seeing the Centre open around this time next year.”
The Steyning Health Centre project is a joint initiative from West Sussex Primary Care Trust and Horsham District Council.
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk