Patients, carers and staff from the Highbridge Medical Centre have celebrated the completion of building works and the official opening of a brand new extension.
Mrs Jane Barrie OBE, the Chairman of NHS Somerset, was invited to cut a ribbon marking the official opening of the new extension.
To add to the celebrations, the centre held an ‘open house’ afternoon – as previewed here – and encouraged registered patients to come along and take a look at the new facilities themselves.
Members of NHS Somerset’s Health Promotion Team were present to offer advice on everything from healthy diet and lifestyle; health checks and diabetic eye screening, to cancer awareness and sexual health.
Commending NHS Somerset for its financial support and the architects and builders for completing the facilities to such a high standard, Practice Manager Joanne Farnworth, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We were delighted so many patients came alomg to view the new surgery extension. Doctors, staff and our public health colleagues were on hand to answer their questions and give advice about improving your diet, health and lifestyle.”
“The new extension to the health centre means we are now able to provide many more services to our patients. We have added two treatment rooms and the overall extra space means we can be more versatility if we need to adapt for future service needs.”
This year the surgery established a Patient Participation Group (PPG). They are already helping the surgery gather the patient views and valuable feedback on services from its 14,000 registered patients.
Members of the PPG held a pig roast and prize raffle as part of the event. Local trades people kindly donated all food and prizes. All proceeds from the event went towards a new wheelchair fund for the medical centre and for the Burnham War Memorial Hospital’s League of Friends.
The Practice doctors and staff: (foreground) Joanne Farnworth (Practice Manager), Dr Carola Steidl, Dr Mike Bizon, Dr Greg Tanner, Dr Ciaran Clapham, Dr Dianne Eddison and Dr Barbara Elliott.
Members of the South Western Ambulance Services NHS Trust attending the Highbridge Medical Centre’s official opening of its new extension.
Paul Huggins, Managing Director of ‘Seal Wise’ viewing some of the specialist sheet material which has been used within the new Highbridge Medical Centre extension.
Members of the Highbridge Medical Centre Patient Participation Group (left to right: Ann Young (Joint Chair), Di Barnard, Christine Rainbird and Sylvia Shepherd (Joint Chair).
Dr Dr Mike Bizon, Senior Partner with Highbridge Medical Centre (right) shakes hands with David Perkin, Director of AWW architects, which were involved in the design of the centre’s new extension. Construction work on the building was carried out by Matrix Solution UK Ltd.
Practice staff at the Highbridge Medical Centre during the opening event.
