Surgery switch may be just first

Patients at a Poulton doctors’ surgery are soon to benefit from plush new surroundings following refurbishment work at Wyre Civic Centre.

Work to transform part of the historic building into a new home for the Lockwood Surgery, in Lockwood Avenue, is set to finish in mid-March, with a view to the GP practice moving the following month.

Part of the Wyre Council building is being turned into waiting rooms and clinic and patient consultation rooms.

Dr Tony Naughton, NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group clinical chief officer, said: “It has
been no secret that the facilities in Lockwood Avenue are not suitable as we look to provide care for generations to come.

“Patients at Lockwood will be pleased to enjoy fantastic new facilities when accessing their local GP practice at a building that is just 100 yards away from their old surgery.

“This move is part of a wider appraisal the CCG is conducting of all NHS property in Fylde and Wyre to make sure all our buildings meet the needs of our ambitious plans to improve healthcare in the decades to come.

“We will soon be publishing our new Estates Strategy as part of our 2030 Vision for Health and Care.

“As a result of this we may move other surgeries if we identify a need for improvement in terms of the buildings’ suitability for future generations of patients.”

Lockwood Surgery practice manager Nathalie Lewin said: “Our current building is no longer ideal for our patients so we are really pleased to be able to take advantage of this new facility.

“Patient feedback over the move has been universally supportive and our Patient Participation Group took part in a consultation exercise ahead of this decision.”

Garry Payne, Wyre Council chief executive, said: “Creating a healthier Wyre is one of the council’s priorities and the creation of a health hub in Poulton is the first step.”