A HEALTH centre in Didcot has received almost £40,000 to help it expand and accommodate new patients.
Ladygrove’s Oak Tree Health Centre, in Tyne Avenue, received the funds from developers as part of their permission to build new homes near the practice.
The money will go towards building an extra consultation room which will have four workstations for clinics, dressings, and mass vaccination programmes.
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The room will also have mobile screens to maximise the usable space and help protect patients’ privacy.
Work on the new space is due to start this month as well as creating new roles such as clinical pharmacists, physician associates, social prescribers, paramedics, physiotherapists, mental health workers and care coordinators.
A total of 10,600 patients are currently registered at the surgery, which first opened in 2002, and the expansion is to accommodate people moving into 1,880 new homes currently being built on Willowbrook Park, north of Ladygrove.
It could also accommodate the 750 homes on Ladygrove East, a development which has recently been given outline planning permission.
As well as the expansion, South Oxfordshire District Council has been working with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) to help with the proposals for a new health centre on Great Western Park.
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The site and developers’ funds have already been agreed to help build the new facility.
Councillor Leigh Rawlins, cabinet member for finance and property assets at the district council, said: “It’s important that developers provide funds to help build the vital infrastructure that is needed.
“So we’re really pleased we’ve been able to allocate money to bring extra primary care for our residents.
“We also recognise that healthcare services in the town are being stretched, particularly on Great Western Park.
“We will continue to work with OCCG to help facilitate a new health centre to be built as soon as possible.”
Julie Dandridge, head of primary care at OCCG, said: “The extra space at Oak Tree Health Centre will significantly improve healthcare facilities for patients and the hard-working staff.
“Healthcare and local authority partners in Oxfordshire will continue to work closely to ensure that, as Didcot welcomes new residents over the coming years, they are able to access good healthcare close to home.”
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The GP partners at Oak Tree Health Centre added: “The funding for the extra consultation room is very welcome.
“The new space will allow our great team to expand and offer our growing numbers of patients the care they need.
“We are looking forward to work beginning and we will keep our patients updated at every stage.”
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