The Royal Docks will get a new health centre after a green light on a multi-million pound acquisition by Newham Council and local health partners.
The new health centre, a project involving Newham Council, East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and Newham Clinical Commissioning Group (NCCG), will open in 2019 following the signing of a 999-year lease on the property at Anchor House, Royal Wharf.
GP services will be offered at the centre alongside a range of community health, social care and a variety of clinical services.
There is a limited primary care provision in the Royal Docks with population expected to reach 25,000 within the next ten years.
There are GP practices in North Woolwich and Silvertown but neither centre has the capacity to serve such rapid population growth.
The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said: “Expanding health provision was a pledge I made during the election campaign and I am delighted to be delivering on this promise.
“This is an important step in an ambitious £314m regeneration project for the Royal Docks.
“The new surgery will provide quality healthcare services to serve Newham residents both now and into the future.”
The lease on the property is valued at £2.6m with the cost of fitting out the health centre coming to £2.7m. Money for the lease has been obtained through section 106 funding available for health facilities from the Barrier Park East, Site WE8 and 1 Pier Road regeneration projects in the Royal Docks. Funding to fit out the centre will come from several sources, including an NHS England grant.
The 1,000m2 site has been acquired by the newly established Health & Care Space Newham (HCSN). The new body has been set up by the council and health partners to deliver new health facilities and keyworker housing across the whole of Newham. Royal Wharf is the first acquisition for HCSN.
The new health centre, which is to be called ‘Pontoon Dock Health Centre’, will provide vital infrastructure for the planned regeneration for the area, which will create 4,000 new homes and up to 35,000 jobs.
Newham CCG has been working with Britannia Village Surgery who will be relocating the existing practice to the new health centre once build works are complete. An extensive engagement process has been initiated with patients and staff with support from Newham CCG and the practice Patient Participation Group. The council and partners have also selected a community health provider to begin delivering services when the centre is opened.
Dr Muhammad Naqvi, Chair of Newham CCG, said: “This is a very exciting build. The proposal for a modern health centre in Royal Docks, reflects our drive to support improved GP services in the area and to ensure long-term sustainability of our GP service offering for the local community.
“This new facility will provide an opportunity for the delivery of services that will complement the development plans for the wider area and the emerging regeneration vision for the Royal Docks.
“The final result will not just be a contemporary building, but a new surgery with its own identity that has been shaped by the local community. I look forward to seeing the plans by the development and design team realised.”
Dr Navina Evans, Chief Executive of East London NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The new Pontoon Dock Health Centre means a comprehensive provision of care will be made available for the people of Newham, one able to meet the challenges in terms of an increasing demographic and an ageing population.
“By investing in new builds like this, a much needed integrated health care system is assured, and the many services that patients and GPs put their trust in is planned for. This is a big win both for our trust and the people we serve.”