A £3.25m medical centre has opened with capacity for 4,000 extra patients.
Burleigh Medical Centre combines two existing GP surgeries, Park Grove surgery and the Cope Street surgery and also incorporates an onsite pharmacy.
It has been designed to deliver the highest standard of care in a comfortable, modern and safe environment. The practice is expecting to take on five new staff over the next year to support the expansion.
Dr Sumanth Chikthimmah, general practitioner at Burleigh Street Medical Centre, said: “Relocating the two sites under one roof means being able to provide improved services and state-of-the-art facilities in a convenient and accessible town-centre location.
“This exciting project, which has been many years in the making, will be a huge boost for the people of Barnsley. Many organisations have worked very hard to bring our vision into reality and this centre will be a great place for our patients and staff.”
Dr Nick Balac, chairman of Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions the town’s health services, was invited to cut the ribbon and declare the centre open to the public. Dr Balac said: “The new health centre is spacious, airy, light and welcoming; all the things you want when you’re not feeling so good or worried about something, yourself or loved ones, supported by friendly faces of staff who can help and you can trust.
“When designing premises such as these they have to be fit for purpose now and future-proofed to meet the evolving needs of patients and the demands of our changing NHS. Increasingly health care will be provided outside of hospital in GP settings in the community, bringing care closer to home, and making it more accessible to patients.”
