Eaglescliffe’s healthyoption

Nov 27 2007 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

STOKESLEY-BASED P+HS Architects has submitted a planning application to replace the existing health centre in Eaglescliffe with a £2.75m innovative new purpose-built facility.

Eaglescliffe Medical Practice is a partnership of general practitioners that currently provides a wide range of in-house services and maintains a long-standing close relationship with the range of community staff that have shared the current premises on Sunningdale Drive since 1974.

Initially a small, local practice, it has grown in 35 years to provide care for more than 8000 patients from the villages of Eaglescliffe, Elton, Long Newton and Yarm.

Consequently it has outgrown the original building.

With at least 100 new dwellings and two new elderly care facilities scheduled for completion in the next 18 months within Eaglescliffe alone, the need for a new purpose-built centre with room for future expansion has become essential.

The plans for the new premises are supported in principle by the North Tees Primary Care Trust and included in the PCT Estate Strategy as a primary care development priority.

The centre is being developed by Abstract Integrated Healthcare, strengthening the relationship that already exists with P+HS Architects which resulted from working on a number of other developments together such as the Eastgate Medical Centre and Alma Street Surgery, Stockton.

The centre will be constructed by Tolent and leased to the practice. The new building will be a direct replacement for the existing health centre with additional accommodation and facilities, accommodating both the Eaglescliffe Medical Practice and the existing PCT community services.

The purpose-built accommodation and facilities will support the provision of modern primary care services, together with flexible additional space and amenities that can be used to support the needs of the increasing local population, while also supporting the development of some new initiatives such as foundation placements for newly qualified doctors.

The main elements within the new building include an extensive GP surgery with accommodation for GPs, nurse practitioners, healthcare assistants and related clinical staff and a PCT community clinic with group spaces for activities such as parent and child sessions, and meeting and training spaces including a library and group room.

The site lies at the junction of Sunningdale Drive and Muirfield Road, overlooked by residential properties, and adjacent to a shopping parade on Sunningdale Drive.

Due to site constrictions, it was necessary to develop proposals for the construction of a temporary health centre on land adjacent to the existing facility for occupation during the demolition and re-building of the existing surgery.

Several sites were considered and evaluated and finally the preferred site was identified close to the existing health centre on open recreational land to the North-west of the current premises but remaining within easy reach for all patients.

Angela Mackereth, practice manager at Eaglescliffe Health Centre, said the new centre “will help to improve the organisation, integration and delivery of primary care services in the area and also provide a much improved working environment for the staff”.

Joe Biggs, director at P+HS Architects, said: “We believe our healthcare buildings are attractive and welcoming, with bright colours, plentiful natural light, good wayfinding and comfortable patient facilities.

“P+HS’s recent design for the Mowbray House surgery in Northallerton is the featured GP practice on NHS Estate’s CD The Healthcare Environment and the features developed there will also be included in the new Eaglescliffe Centre, for example, the waiting areas will be light and bright, seating will be designed for comfort, and energy efficiency is paramount.”

Subject to planning approval, it is expected that the development will be complete and ready for occupation by the practice in spring 2009.