Work will begin next week on a £500,000 extension to double the size of Wellington Road Surgery.
The 30 week build, which will take until the end of the year to complete, is being funded by Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust (PCT) as the surgery expands into a training centre for future GPs.
The first floor extension was given the green light in December despite fears it would contribute to traffic problems. And the issues revolving around the case divided members of the borough council’s plans board.
However, bosses at Wellington Road Surgery, say the extra space is desperately needed to cater for their 13,500 patients.
Wellington Road GP Dr Nick Tindall said: “Doctors and Staff at the surgery are very excited that the long awaited surgery extension is going to start on Monday.
“The majority of the council whole-heartedly backed the scheme and we have put plans together to improve surgery access and we are doing what we can to help the traffic issues.
“One of the main reasons we have gone with the plans is because of our central location and we believe it is better to expand here rather than relocate to the outskirts of town where access is more difficult.
“But we would like to apologise for the necessary disruption to the car parking facilities that this will cause.
“Staff and doctors will not be using the car park at all during this time and there will only be one space reserved for the duty doctor with restricted patient parking.
“We hope that patients will understand and show consideration during this time, which will result in much improved facilities benefitting all patients.”
Planning officers said the surgery had outgrown it’s site and was already causing traffic problems due to patients’ cars clogging up neighbouring streets.
But councillors rejected their advice and backed the extension with a split vote.
The extension will aid a scheme run with Keele University which enables trainee doctors to gain experience in a GP surgery setting.
Practice Manager Lynn Kupiec believes it will allow the practice to deliver higher quality care and expertise closer to patients’ homes.
She said: “We will be able to carry out specialist clinics on site and there will be greater local services for local people.
“We have had to put training on hold because of cramped conditions here, but the extension will give us the freedom to start that up again.
“The extra space will also enable us to welcome visiting consultants to the surgery to provide an even better service for our patients.”
By Sam Pinnington