Plans unveiled for £13m surgery
A £13 million super surgery which would serve more than 15,000 patients in Shrewsbury could be built within two years, developers have said.
Bosses of Matrix Medical made the announcement after submitting plans to Shropshire Council this week for the complex which would be build on land near to Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne.
The scheme would see a wealth of facilities provided for the north of the town with Albert Road and Mount Pleasant medical practices moving to the site and Shropshire County Primary Care Trust having a base there.
Jobs would also be created if the scheme is approved.
The centre would also provide physiotherapy, NHS dentistry and minor surgery from the site. It would also be a base for health visitors, district nurses, school nurses and other health professionals.
Ashley Seymour, development manager for Matrix Medical, said if plans were approved work would start on site next year and would be finished by the end of 2011.
Consultation
He said: "Submission of the planning application represents an important step forward for this exciting project following formal funding approval by the PCT.
"Early public consultation with patients and local residents has been very encouraging and we are confident that the new building will provide real benefits to local people."
The plans were submitted on Wednesday, with health chiefs welcoming the news.
Dr Deborah Shepherd, of Mount Pleasant Medical Centre, said: "We are very excited at the prospect of the new medical centre, which will allow us to develop and expand the services and care we provide for our patients.
"We will be able to implement several projects which up to now have been impossible due to lack of space in our current premises."
Dr David Martin, of Albert Road Medical Practice, added: "We believe that the new centre will enable us to develop and expand the care and services we give to our patients."
And Liz Welsh, the PCT's senior commissioning manager, said: "The primary care centre will bring together a range of GP and community health services on one site for the benefit of patients in north Shrewsbury and surrounding areas."
By John Kirk