£1.4m plan to extend Sidmouth doctors' surgery submitted for planning approval

A £1.4million plan to extend a struggling Sidmouth doctors' surgery has been submitted to planning bosses.

Sid Valley Medical Centre is currently based at the Beacon Medical Centre, in Sedemuda Road, with a satellite Blackmore Health Centre, in Blackmore Road.

More than 1,080 residents shared their views in a consultation on the application which looks to extend the Beacon centre - adding extra consulting rooms, a minor injury unit, operating theatres, training rooms, and facilities for pharmacists, a physiotherapist and researchers.

The town centre branch surgery, Blackmore Health Centre, will also be moved, as part of the plans, to two designated rooms at the Sidmouth Victoria Hospital, with other rooms to be available as and when needed.

Blackmore Health Centre has previously been rated as 'unfit-for-purpose', by regulators the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

If given the go-ahead, the 20-year dream to improve the surgery will be one step closer to becoming a reality.

Previous plans to expand the surgery into the library and then to refurbish the current Blackmore surgery have previously fallen through but funding has now been secured for this latest planning application.

The development would enable the medical centre to cater for the expected patient growth until 2028.

The original plans have been updated so the Beacon site has an entrance and an exit to help traffic flow.

Dr Joe Stych, GP partner at Sid Valley Medical Centre, said they had significantly reduced traffic flow to the Beacon by working remotely where planned, and Covid had helped them deliver this overnight.

He added: "Where patients still need to be seen we have more staggered appointment times so people are arriving and leaving at different times.

"We are working with local bus companies to improve public transport to site.

"The group is also exploring the option of a minibus to help patient get to appointments. And, alternative parking locations are being reviewed.

"This move would allow us to integrate primary care and hospital services while continuing to offer a walkable service in the centre of Sidmouth. 

"The expansion is needed because we have no free clinical rooms and need more space.

"More work is moving out of hospitals into the community. 

"We are working with local practices in Primary Care Networks to provide more services ( pharmacists, physiotherapists,mental health workers,nursing associates) to help look after local people. 

"We need more space to do this. 

"We cannot meet our educational roles to train doctors and nurses for local universities within current limitations.

"We are struggling to recruit new staff to our teams with the current set up."

He added that the move would allow the practice to expand its range of services and meet the growing needs of an expanding patient list.

It would also allow them to continue to offer a branch surgery from the centre of town and an improved main site.

And, it will also reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital and help facilitate early discharge. 

Dr Stych said: "It will strengthen the position of Sidmouth Hospital, help us recruit doctors and nurses to future proof primary care services in the Sid Valley and offer more services locally so patients do not have to travel to Exeter."

See the full plans HERE.

East Devon District Council will make the final decision on the plans.