GP practice on the move as development of new health centre to begin

People registered at a Blackpool town centre GP practice have been informed their appointments will take place at a temporary site as part of plans to develop a new state-of-the-art health centre.

The Adelaide Street Family Practice site close to the town centre is to be demolished in the coming weeks. The new health centre is expected to open in 2023 and will provide a new base for the practice as well as neighbouring South King Street Surgery.

In the meantime, Adelaide Street will relocate some of its services to the former Gorton Street Surgery, which is around half a mile away. The surgery will also continue to use the former Elizabeth Street Surgery site as well as the Harris Medical Centre branch site in Kentmere Drive.

Artist impressions of the new health centre:

Dr Cruz Augustine, one of the GP partners at the surgery, said:

“While we accept this disruption is not ideal to our patients, we are confident the new health centre development will be well worth it for everyone.

“Our surgery building is in need of refurbishment to allow us to continue to offer the services we currently do – and more – and we have been given an ideal opportunity do make this happen.

“We all know that there are many people in Blackpool with significant health and wellbeing needs and having a state-of-the-art new health centre right in the middle of town will be of huge benefit to both our patients and our staff.”

The practice has already written to all patients to let them know about the temporary relocation. The new health centre will be built on the site of the current GP practice as well as the former Comrades Club.

Administrative staff have already moved out of the current building and are working from the Elizabeth Street site.

Once the new health centre development is completed and South King Street Surgery relocates, its current building will be demolished to make way for a car park to be used by staff and patients.