Hayley MaceHealth services for thousands of people living in south Waveney will soon be transformed with the development of a long-awaited medical complex housing doctors, dentists and a care home.Hayley Mace
Health services for thousands of people living in south Waveney will soon be transformed with the development of a long-awaited medical complex housing doctors, dentists and a care home.
Ambitious plans for the multi-million pound South Waveney Healthy Living Centre to be built in Reydon, near Southwold, were given the go-ahead by Waveney District Council's development control committee on Wednesday night.
The new building will include a medical centre with doctors, dentists and a pharmacy alongside a 60-bed residential care home.
The proposals, drawn up by Hopkins Homes, will also see 38 homes, two shops and a new village green built on the Eversley playing field site on Wangford Road.
As well as taking in services from Southwold hospital, the one-stop healthcare centre will offer treatment to thousands of people living around Southwold, Reydon, Blythburgh, Wangford, Wrentham and Halesworth.
Southwold Surgery will be moving from its York Road building to the new centre and practice manager Alasdair Wilson said he was delighted that the proposals are moving forward.
He said: 'We will be moving lock, stock and barrel to the new centre to work alongside other community services, the pharmacy and dentists all in one place.
'It is great news for local people as it means we will be able to offer more services in a more integrated way. It will also be an extremely valuable service for people living in the surrounding rural areas.'
The full business case for the scheme is scheduled to be discussed by the board of NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney in March.
Andy Peck, head of estates and risk for NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said: 'This is an exciting project for everyone living in the south Waveney area and for us at the primary care trust.
'The centre will serve 22,000 people and will support the development of integrated health services. Including GP provision, there will be a range of community services at the centre, allowing local people to access a range of services without having to travel long distances to hospital for some treatment.'
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