Local patients could soon be heading to the Riverway Industrial Estate for their doctor’s appointments as plans are submitted for a new GP surgery at the site of the former Natwest Bank.
Healthcare building specialists Assura have submitted an application to the Isle of Wight Council, looking to temporarily turn the top floor of the former NatWest premises on Riverway into a surgery.
Planning agent Savills says the practice needing to move cannot be named due to confidentiality. However, it is known that Newport Health Centre – made up of surgeries in Carisbrooke and Downer House – were in discussions with Assura last November. At the time it was said they were exploring the options of building a new state-of-the-art surgery at a favoured site of Godric Road, but could attention now be turning to Riverway instead?
Documents say the surgery, which is ‘in the area’, will need to temporarily relocate due to the ‘significant structural’ refurbishment works required at its current site. It’s also known that the Carisbrooke surgery has been deemed ‘unfit for purpose’, further supporting the idea that it is Newport Health Centre looking to move.
Savills say there are limited alternative sites suitable for such a change of use and if the plans were not to go ahead, the former bank would remain vacant and fall into disrepair.
No external alterations are proposed in the plans, only internally, to turn the former bank into office spaces; a waiting room and reception area; with 5 consultation and 2 treatment rooms.
If approved, the practice would be open Monday to Friday from 07:00-19:00.
A previous application to change the use of the building had been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, as previously reported by Island Echo, but was recently rejected as it was not the correct type of permission to gain.
You can view the plans, 22/01368/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 12th September.
Editor’s footnote: It was initially reported that Newport Health Centre was potentially looking at moving to the Natwest site. It has now been confirmed as being Medina Healthcare.
There’s bus’s that go near Godric Rd and not everyone’s got transport and so how are they going to get to this place , disabled or elderly people
I wouldn’t worry about it. They’ll spend millions renovating it just to find out there are no Doctors or Nurses available to staff it!
Waiting to see if any NIMBY say no.
Silly me, there was I under the impression that an ADDITIONAL GP Surgery was going to be provided. WAKE UP NHS and Council. another is needed the present one cannot cope with the more and more people being ‘brought in’ to the Newport area
No matter where it goes if it is Newport Health Centre then it will take ages to get through on the phone, plead to the receptionist to be able to see a doctor and if extremely lucky may get an appointment with a nurse in 2 months time as the powers that be deflect you away from what you rang up for.
You could always go online, or contact 111.
Trust me I have done and not got a reply to my e-mail and 111 tell you to make an appointment with your surgery. It’s a vicious circle!!
Did just that for my wife, during lockdown, rang at 6.30 am, asked if she could get an x-ray appointment for a suspect foot injury, and told someone would get back within four hours. At 4.30am next day, a ” clinician” called me to say, nothing we can do, you need to call your GP. That took another week to get resolved before the GP phoned me and said, ” Oh, sounds like she needs an x-ray”.
Is there plenty of parking ????
Yes parking at side of building which was originally built as SK Furniture.
Lets try and see the positives here folks…….
Well for the agent company that own the building and Assura, positive outcome’s.
you are joking this is island echo no chance.
The cesspit of hate and negativity eh! Lol.
So what about the million + spent on buying the empty shop in Newport high street, earmarked for NHS use. Will it ever happen?
A perfect hidey hole for all the GPs nobody has seen for ages. Although it won’t bother those that work from home ” on the mainland”!!!!