Construction Starts on £10 Million NHS Swindon Health Centre

Thousands of patients in Swindon can look forward to NHS healthcare in a state-of-the-art new facility as construction work on a £10 million health centre started on January 18, 2016.

Project partners will mark the start of work on the new 27,000 square feet Swindon Health Centre in a ceremony at Fleming Way.

The centre is due to open in spring 2017 and replaces the outdated Health Centre on Carfax Street nearby which provides a range of services including the Walk-in Centre. The new facility is bigger and will provide a high-quality environment for a wide range of care services commissioned by Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England and Public Health Swindon.

Among those attending the ceremony today are representatives of the organisations that have worked for more than ten years to bring the project to fruition, which include Swindon Borough Council, local councillors, GPs, health services, MUSE Developments, NHS Property Services and Healthwatch Swindon.

The health centre will provide a full range of community and enhanced primary care services to over 22,000 registered and 36,000 unregistered local patients. The new health centre will be built over four levels which will offer more patient services than those currently available at Carfax Street Health Centre, with plans to include a pharmacy, two GP practices, dental, podiatry and a variety of community health services.

The new health centre will form part of Muse’s Kimmerfields Development and will sit alongside the already constructed new 850-space multi-storey car park and assisted living residential building, delivered as part of the first phase.

Bob Sanderson, Director of Urgent Care at Carfax Street Health Centre said: “We are delighted that work is starting on the new Swindon Health Centre, which will improve the health and wellbeing of people in Swindon by providing a modern, safe and high-quality environment.”

“Local patients will be able to access two GP practices, community and dental services, specialist health services and a pharmacy – all under one town centre roof.”

Dr Peter Crouch, Clinical Chair of NHS Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group which commissions services on behalf of the twenty six local GP practices serving Swindon, and Shrivenham said: “This has been a long-awaited project and it is extremely gratifying to see construction finally get underway.”

“Delivery of this project was made possible through the contribution of many involved parties over the past decade including the former Accountable Officer for Swindon, Jan Stubbings. I would like to personally thank all those whose sheer determination and personal commitment has contributed to the impetus to deliver this wonderful new health facility for Swindon.”

Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council Cabinet member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills, said: "This is a very important milestone that will provide a vital health facility to serve the residents in the Borough well into the future. It's an example of the many benefits the Kimmerfields development will bring to the town centre as we continue to regenerate the area."

John Follows, Regional Asset Manager for NHS Property Services, added: “This development is hugely important to local people so we know they will be pleased to see work starting on this superb health centre. This is an excellent facility to meet the changing needs of patients and the NHS for many years to come.”