The plans will see a major practice in the town given a full upgrade in what the MP described as a “big win” for Woking
The planned Goldsworth Park Health Centre expansion will see it turned to a ‘one-stop-shop’ for for GPs, nurses, physios, mental health workers and more (stock image)(Image: GETTY)
Woking will be getting a new NHS neighbourhood health centre as part of a £50 million project launched by the Government.
Its a “big win” for Woking according to the town’s MP as a major practice in the town has been awarded Government funding to expand services and improve patient access.
Unlike many larger towns in Surrey, Woking does not have a major hospital akin to that of the Royal Surrey in Guildford or Frimley Park Hospital.
This means residents have to travel outside the town to access many healthcare services.
In an effort to bring more services closer to home, the Government’s Neighbourhood Health Service programme will see the Goldsworth Park Health Centre expanded.
According to Woking MP Will Forster, the expansion will see the Health Centre turn to a one-stop-shop for GPs, nurses, physios, mental health workers and much more.
The Goldsworth Park Health Centre will have its office spaces converted to clinical areas as part of the expansion(Image: Google)
The MP said upgrades will turn underutilised office space on the site in Goldsworth Park into clinical areas with a new lift also set to be installed to improve accessibility for patients.
Woking is set to be the first of 27 towns and cities across the country to receive a neighbourhood health centre as part of up to £50 million in national funding.
Speaking on the wider Neighbourhood Health Service programme, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “This government is transforming healthcare, so the NHS works around the lives of patients – not vice versa.
“We’re rolling out neighbourhood health centres across the country by repurposing and improving local buildings, first targeting the communities that need them most.
“These one-stop shops will help end the maze of referrals and repeated conversations, treating not just poor health but the causes of it, too.
“As we rebuild our NHS, our mission is to shift more healthcare into the community, while delivering easier access to care, improved outcomes for patients and better value for money for the taxpayer.”
The Labour Government aims to open all of these 27 neighbourhood centres across the country by 2027 and have pledged to open 250 by 2035.
Woking MP Will Forster said he is “delighted” at the news, calling it a “big win” for the town(Image: Will Forster)
Celebrating the news, Will Forster, Lib Dem MP for Woking said: “I am delighted to confirm that the Government has agreed to upgrade the Goldsworth Health Centre into a Neighbourhood Health Centre.
“This will expand the services offered here to a one stop shop of GPs, nurses, physios, mental health workers and much more.
“The building will be extended, with clinical accommodation added to the first floor, and a lift built to ensure everyone can access these new services. This investment is a huge win for Woking and a great get for the staff that run the centre.
“Expanding services locally means residents can access the care they need closer to home, without unnecessary trips to hospital. I will continue working with NHS leaders to ensure Woking gets the modern, accessible healthcare it deserves.”
Claire Fuller, NHS England’s National Medical Director, added: “Neighbourhood health centres will make it easier for people, particularly working-class communities, to access more joined-up care closer to home.
“By bringing GP services together with a wider range of tailored support, we can help people to get the right care more quickly, close to home, while avoiding unnecessary trips to hospital.”
It is yet to be announced when work will begin to expand the Goldsworth Park Health Centre. However due to the Government’s 2027 completion date for all 27 of the new neighbourhood centres, it can be expected that construction will begin in the near future.