Patients of the Medina Healthcare doctor’s surgery in Wootton will soon be forced to travel to Newport for their appointments as the existing surgery at Brannon Way is to be demolished and rebuilt.
It has been confirmed that Medina Healthcare will temporarily – for a period of around 3 years – be moving to the former Natwest bank on Riverway, which will be converted to contain 5 consultation rooms, 2 treatment rooms, a waiting room and reception plus office spaces.
A planning application was recently submitted for a change of use of the premises off the Buywise roundabout, as previously reported by Island Echo.
At the start of the COVID pandemic, patients at West Street in Newport were transferred to Wootton as the Newport surgery was unsuitable for direct patient care. However, it has now been determined that Wootton is also sub-standard to the extent that it needs to be completely demolished and rebuilt – despite being built just 8 years ago. The building has cracking and movement.
To allow for the demolition and rebuild, which could take around 3 years, patients will be seen at the temporary surgery at Riverway from early to mid-2023. This building, which was once a Natwest business centre, will also house administration staff from West Street.
In a letter to patients today (Friday), Medina Healthcare has said that its landlords at Wootton, Assura, are already working hard to bring about the rebuild as quickly as due process allows. They have confirmed it will essentially be a like-for-like replacement, but the new building will give opportunity to ensure the new surgery meets the very latest access regulations and also makes the very best use of the available space.
James Davies, Business Manager, has said:
“We would like to assure all patients and stakeholders that we are striving to ensure that both the temporary facilities and the new building in Wootton will meet all patient requirements so you will continue to receive the best service possible from the practice.
“There is still work to be done around the move before arrangements are finalised, but we will continue to update you on any further developments via our webpage. We respectfully request that you consult this platform to keep our phone lines open for medical queries and appointments”.
Shocking 8 years old and sub standard, wouldn’t just underpinning sort this out ?
Far cheaper and less disruptive.
Hope the original builders are made to compensate for this disastrous build.
Having a working practice whilst underpinning a building is far more disruptive. And takes longer
Having worked in the building industry, over 3 years to underpin a building, that will be a big NO
Has anybody thought of the vulnerable people in our society? Those without the funds for a taxi – or the physical ability to walk up from the bus station? There are many reasons for not having a car, sight problems being only one. Then to add insult to injury the only place to find information on the progress of the build is on line! Surely a separate phone line could be installed?
It is our duty to aid and support those who need it , not to elbow them out of our way so we can be first in the queue.
If the current building is cracking and moving after a mere eight years how long will the the building last anyway?
You mean Wootton residents can actually see a doctor? Wow impressed.
What a faff! Couldn’t they have found somewhere which doesn’t involve going into and through the many pleasures of the the Newport transport system?
Don’t fancy an 8:30am appointment.
Your generous calling it a system. Tetley tea boys would have done a better job, for far less money.
What? It’s practically brand new. If its cracking, fill the cracks. If it’s moving, stop it moving. .
Did the company that built the surgery also build the floating bridge?
The council are a joke how does
it take 3 years to build a surgery
it would take a year at the most
Shouldn’t that be doctors’ as in plural Saying that probably correct with the lack of resources (unfortunately)
So they have to knock down a sub standard building but hope to rebuild it like for like? Perhaps if they employed proper people from the start, it may not have been built sub standard? As with everything over here, there is always something Dubious going on.
Okay, building is failing, so where do we go….onto the Riverside where there is no bus route? How do you get there? Ah yes by car of course….
I think you get my drift on this as we can expect some parking charges to be introduced can’t we?
It was probably built by an island company!
Arthur adding more polution into the atmosphere i thought we were trying to save carbon emissison not adding to it and this applies to all road closures on this island ,
Not even 10 years old. What an absolute disgrace!
I think it is terrible.
Wow, what a well thought out scheme, they’ve obviously considered the logistics, traffic, public transport etc, for all those less able to make their own way. Oh, and don’t phone us, use the website, assuming you have access and ability. Newport and Carisebrooke patients , it won’t be long before you get the same letter, sorry , email or text.
why the hell is patients forced to travel into Newport and attack Copins bridge as well , surly there is a tempory building local why the hell is Newport so important to temporary relocate , as well as the shoddy workmanship carried out ,why was this developement not supervise and built to british standard., there should be a 10 year warantee on this build
Why not just stick six portacabins on the car park? Wootton people shouldn’t have to do an hours round trip for an appointment and there are no buses.Madness
So, if you’re really poorly, with an infectious disease, get on the bus and give it to everyone else, and pass out whilst you’re at it. Will there be an increase in home visits for vulnerable people?