Work begins to convert former hospital into new Emsworth GP surgery after months of campaigning

Contractors have moved onto the former Victoria Cottage Hospital to transform the building into a new surgery in Emsworth.

GPs, staff and patients struggled to cope on their cramped existing site over the road in North Street.

Campaigners spent months trying to secure the former hospital site for the new surgery after it was put up for sale in July 2018. The building was decommissioned and closed in April 2013.

Dr Abu Chinwala, a partner at Emsworth Surgery, said: ‘We’ve had such a long and at times frustrating wait for a new home. But we are counting the days now.

‘This is good news for us as GPs and every member of our staff, who just want to be able to offer our patients the best possible primary care services and facilities that we can.

‘The practice had 2,000 patients when we opened. We have 13,000 now. We just could not have coped much longer on our existing site.’

Building works will involve the demolition of single-storey outbuildings, a new rear single-storey extension to the main building, the installation of a new lift shaft, the reconfiguration of rooms within the surgery, and internal and external decorations.

It is due to be completed in January next year and it is hoped the new surgery could open its doors to its first patients in March 2021.

Sara Tiller, managing director of NHS South East Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: ‘It’s a win/win situation and is great news for all those people who campaigned so strongly to keep the surgery in the heart of their community, great news for the GPs who wanted to provide modern and accessible premises with space to expand, and great news for patients.’

Adam Shepheard, principal construction manager for NHS Property Services added: ‘The local community is able keep an important local site in public possession, as well as retain their GP service in the locality and this was achieved through working proactively with local stakeholders and partners.’

The Emsworth Surgery’s branch in Westbourne is being retained.