Published date: 28 September 2020
Negotiating lease agreement and fitting-out a doctors surgery in a new residential development
Shortstown Health Centre, Bedfordshire
Background
Customers: Wooton Vale Health Living Centre and Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group
NHSPS representatives: Jo Tuck, Senior Construction Manager and Rosalind Grennell, Senior Transaction Manager
Challenge
New Cardington is a residential development by Bellway Homes Limited on the outskirts of Bedford. As part of the s106 agreement, Bellway were required to fit out a doctors surgery to ensure the increased demand for primary care services can be met as the population of Bedford grows.
Following a premises options appraisal commissioned by the Bedfordshire CCG in October 2016, it was concluded that the preferred option was to relocate the APMS service to the new surgery premises at New Cardington (the existing premises, not within NHSPS ownership, are unsuitable for the provision of primary care).
Solution
We negotiated the terms of the lease agreement with the developer, Bellway Homes, and agreement for sub lease with the APMS GP practice. Once agreements were in place, fit-out works proceeded as per the timetable to enable the GP surgery to open on 28 September 2020.
We oversaw the works and held regular project calls with the CCG, Bellway Homes and the GP practice to ensure needs were met and all parties were fully informed of progress.
Bellway covered the cost of the fit out works, with additional tenant items together with NHSPS’s legal and surveyor fees recovered from the CCG
Impact
With significant housing growth planned in Bedfordshire, the new, fit for purpose surgery will be able to deliver the best quality primary care to existing and new patients in the communities for many years to come.
The new building offers much more space including three GP consultation rooms, one nurse room and a health care assistant/phlebotomy room. There is a waiting room and separate reception area, an interview room is also available to allow patients to discuss their medical issues confidentially. The surgery is situated on the ground floor and has automatic entrance doors to ensure easy access.
Shortstown Surgery achieved BREEAM Very Good for considering sustainability aspects throughout the build.
Customer feedback
"We are delighted to have this modern addition to primary care services in Bedford. Working in partnership we are delighted to be able to open the new premises which will enable the provider to deliver excellent healthcare that meets the needs of the residents of Shortstown and provides services for the growing population.”
Dr Nicola Smith, Chair of Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group
“We are passionate about providing the very best care for our patients. The surgery team has worked hard to ensure that we deliver a modern GP surgery that will enable us to provide high quality healthcare for the residents of Shortstown and the surrounding areas. We are all looking forward to welcoming our patients.”
Dr Lynsey McKenzie, Wootton Vale Healthy Living Centre
