The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced in early-May 2025 that 16 GP surgeries across Somerset would share £102m for refurbishing or expanding their premises, allowing more patients to be treated as part of the NHS ten-year plan.
One of the surgeries selected for funding was Axbridge & Wedmore Medical Practice, which operates across two sites – one on Houlgate Way in Axbridge (near the Lavender Rise housing development) and one on St Medard Road in Wedmore (near the busy B3139).
The surgeries have now confirmed that building work will begin in a matter of weeks, with six new clinical rooms being delivered across the two sites.
Dr Ewart Jackson-Voyzey and Dr Josephine McHugh, the GP partners at the joint practice, made the announcements to patients on the surgeries’ official Facebook page just before Christmas.
Wedmore Surgery on St Medard Road in Wedmore (Image: Google Maps)
They said: “We are very pleased to announce that Axbridge Surgery has been awarded 100 per cent funding, and Wedmore Surgery 66 per cent funding, to support planned reconfigurations.
“We are extremely grateful to the Wedmore and Axbridge Community Health Fund CIO, which has generously agreed to cover the remaining 34 per cent shortfall for Wedmore (£42,000), as well as the costs of equipping each new clinical room.
“The reconfigurations will provide five additional clinical rooms at Axbridge and one at Wedmore.
“This will allow us to expand neighbourhood-based care in line with the NHS Long Term Plan, which emphasises delivering services closer to communities, rather than in hospitals.
“These changes will help ensure the practice is well-prepared to meet the needs of our patients now and in the future.”
The Axbridge surgery will remain open throughout the building work, which is expected to begin in early-February and will last for up to 12 weeks.
The dates for the necessary building work at the Wedmore site have not yet been confirmed.
However, this site will have to close for up to eight weeks to allow the work to take place – meaning all patients will seen at the Axbridge site in the meantime.
The doctors stated: “We do not anticipate any reduction in appointment capacity during this time.
“Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this exciting phase of development for our surgeries.”