WORK is underway to expand a doctor’s surgery in Newquay following a funding injection.

Newquay Health Centre in St Thomas Road is undergoing various upgrades to provide more appointments for patients, which includes two new consulting rooms.

The scheme also involves internal works to convert the existing medical records room within the roof space into office space including the installation of new roof lights as well as the replacement of the existing draught lobby at the main entrance with a new version to improve disability access and flow.

The modernisation of the facility aims to create additional space to boost productivity and improve patient care.

The funding follows residents complaining they find it difficult to get an appointment, which many blame on the thousands of new houses being built in the town.

Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay, says Government has listened to the urgent need for more GP investment and funded a refurbishment of Newquay Health Centre, which will “free up critically needed capacity for patients.”

The grant is part of the government funding of more than £102 million, which will benefit over 1,000 GP surgeries nationally.

Nationally, patients will benefit from a programme to create over eight million new GP appointments this year, being delivered through Labour’s Plan for Change.

Mr Law said: “I am thrilled to see funding from the Labour Government being put to work for the benefit of local residents in Newquay, having campaigned hard for more GP funding in the constituency – culminating with me meeting the Secretary of State earlier this year.

“I have heard loud and clear the urgent calls from constituents for more GP appointments – and this investment will fund refurbishments to free up additional clinical rooms so people can be seen faster; with refreshes improving accessibility and support for the hard-working team.”

Narrowcliff Surgery plans to relocate to a purpose-built new facility to a site off Trevenson Road, at Nansledan where pre-approved planning permission has been granted. The GP surgery wants to move to a larger new premises to meet the clinical needs of the growing population in the town.

The new premises would have extra clinical space, allowing more GPs and other frontline professionals to be employed, so the surgery could take on lots of new patients as the town expands.

Under the plans, all existing services would be retained, and new services would be offered. There may also be opportunities for other health services to co-locate. Continuity of care would also be enhanced, as there would be more GPs, so patients would be more likely to see the same family doctor. Greater car parking provision would be available at the new premises, which is also located on a main bus route.

The surgery is exploring options to fund the new premises, liaising with NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and third party developers. If funding is secured, architectural plans will be produced and shared with the public.