Doctor's surgery finally set to open (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Doctor's surgery finally set to open

7:30am Thursday 16th August 2012 in Local news

AFTER years of planning, a new modern doctors’ surgery is set to open next week.

The Doddinghurst Surgery is set to become the Dealtree Health Centre from Monday as the practice moves around the corner and doubles in size.

The new surgery, which was first mooted in 2004, was deemed essential as the practice in Outing’s Lane, Doddinghurst, was at breaking point.

The building in Outing’s Lane was built in 1963 and extended three times.

But in 2004 it was concluded it was no longer able to meet the demands of a practice which serves almost 9,000 people living in Doddinghurst, Kelvedon Hatch, Blackmore, Stondon Massey and Navestock.

Carolyn Larsen, associate director of primary care commissioning at NHS South Essex, said: “We are delighted the practice will be moving to its new premises next week.

“This is great news for all the patients, who will benefit from much improved new facilities.

“We wish them all the very best in their new premises.”

Dr Nigel Butler, who runs the surgery, was granted permission for the building in 2010 by Brentwood Council.

The part one-storey, part two-storey centre, on a piece of arable land in Blackmore Road, next to Deal Tree Corner, will give the practice the ability to recruit a new doctor, to ease pressure on appointments.

Other benefits are likely to include more space to train GP registrars, doctors completing their GP training, dedicated rooms for nurses to run their clinics, separate toilets for male and female staff and patients, toilets and full facilities for disabled patients and off-road parking for patients with dedicated disabled spaces as well as access for deliveries and ambulances.

Both Doddinghurst and Kelvedon Hatch parish councils favoured the scheme from the start.

However, some residents living nearby raised concerns as the building is on green belt land.

Roger McCheyne, who represents Doddinghurst on Brentwood Council, said: “I’d say 99.9 per cent of people are really happy about it.

“It’s going to be better all round and it is what was needed. The old surgery would have ended up having to close because it was so old and small.”