Kingskerswell, Devon

The PCT owned 1960s Health Centre was both functionally and physically obsolescent and not able to provide both the Practice and PCT with a premises solution that met the needs of their modern integrated and patient centred approach to Primary Care.  The existing site did provide the best and most accessible solution and Apollo's design team set about designing a replacement, whilst organising a temporary off-site surgery solution for when work on site commenced.

 The restricted existing site proved a challenge in the design as 3 times the amount of space had to be re-provided.  Added to this, was the Planning Authority's keenness to see a modern high quality development.  Together with a Project Team from both the public and private sectors, design and affordability issues were overcome to create a building of just under 1,000 sqm to house a 5 GP Practice, PCT Community accommodation as well as retail pharmacy.   The project started with a Partnering Workshop which brought together stakeholders to define project aspirations and help define the programme to achieve the right kind of scheme with the proper audit trail.

 Work on the site took 10 months, whilst the Practice and PCT were temporarily housed in accommodation erected on nearby Church land organized by Apollo.

The final building provides consultation and treatment rooms, a minor operations suite, phlebotomy room, SALT facilities, District Nurse, Social Care and Mental Health Counselling rooms, as well as training and administration accommodation.  GP registrars, trainee nurses and students from the Peninsula Medical School are also accommodated in the new facility.

The new Centre provides the Practice with new electronic links to the secondary sector and the Practice's sister surgery in Ipplepen.  This scheme provides a modern health facility in the heart of the community with views stretching as far as Dartmoor from large picture windows at first floor level.