Owners of the ‘sub-standard’ Wootton doctor’s surgery — which will need to be pulled down — have committed to resolving issues around the practice.
Medical property portfolio holder Assura have been the owners of Wootton Bridge Medical Centre since 2017 — 3 years after it was built — and said it was not aware of any potential structural issues when it took over.
Over the years, the land it was built on has experienced minor movement and issues with the foundations have led to the need for what planning documents called ‘significant structural work’. Surveys have shown cracks are now evident in the building and it has been dubbed ‘sub-standard’ by Medina Healthcare.
In a letter to patients, it was revealed the 8-year-old building must be knocked down and rebuilt – as first reported by Island Echo last week. The cost of relocating the surgery and the rebuilding process will fall to Assura.
James Davies, business manager of Medina Healthcare, told patients the news came as a shock, given the relatively young age of the building but was pleased Assura was already working hard to bring about the rebuild as quickly as possible.
A spokesperson for Assura said since becoming aware of the situation they had been working closely with structural engineers to work out what next steps are needed to fix the causes of the problems at Wootton Bridge Medical Centre. They say they have also been working with Medina Healthcare and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to explore options for temporary accommodation for the practice while the work is underway to minimise patient disruption.
Plans have now been put in place for the practice to occupy the former NatWest building on Riverway, Newport — for potentially 3 years.
The spokesperson said:
“We are committed to resolving these issues and to ensuring the practice continues to have high-quality space for delivering its services to patients.”
The 2 branches of Medina Healthcare would then be under one roof as administrative staff are set to move out of West Street as the building’s owners now want to sell it.
The current Wootton building, on Brannon Way, is still safe for staff and patients to use but the agencies are now looking toward the future. It is thought the move to Newport would take place early to mid-next year.
The medical centre was built and opened in 2014 after a long-run campaign by Wootton Bridge Parish Council to get a new GP surgery in the village.
In planning documents submitted by Medina Healthcare to the Isle of Wight Council back in 2010, it was said to keep the height of the building down, it made sense to cut the ground down so the building nestled into the sloping site.
New designs and foundations will be worked on to ensure the same cracking issues do not happen at the new facility.
Is this what happens when NHS surgeries go corporate? When I joined them at West Street many years ago, I was cared for by a surgery that had at least 5 GPs and a number of locums in a building (admittedly a bit outdated) within walking distance. First, they merged with the Wootton surgery to become “Medina Healthcare”, then they lost most GPs, then they closed the West Street location, and now it turns out that the Wootton building is owned by a very large national consortium and declared not fit for purpose. Words fail me.
i wouldn’t mind if we paid in for private care, but we have paid in for the nhs now so we wants to be treated for free as we paid in tons over the years then the government lets in all they foreigner blacks who fills up the maternity wards and have busted the system so we cant treat our selves even though we is those who paid in for it all now can we.
they wants hooking out of it then more houses for are own too.
Amen Ivy, nice to hear someone saying it how it really is. A rare commodity the freedom of speech when telling the truth now I am afraid. Well said.
If you had bothered to read the article before posting you would have discovered it is about problems with the fabric of the building.
How sad for all the patients… why change to NEWPORT, when there are going to be empty buildings in Ryde.. easier to get to and from ??? Obvious no one cares about the people !!!
Let us hope that they also find a solution on how all the existing older NON drivers and disabled patients get to the new building on the trading estate in Newport without a bus service. OH sorry of course they just need a phone.
Ridiculous decision to move to Newport Ind Estate. Better off sticking a mobile clinic or two in council car park opposite.
I think it’s terrible.
A letter to patients! What letter? We are registered with the practice but only read about it here.
Thanks Island echo for the information.