CONSTRUCTION on Hereford's new Station Medical Centre is entering its final stage, developers have revealed.

When finished, the Station Approach site will have 30,677 sq ft of floorspace over three floors and will house the Greyfriars, Moorfield House, Aylestone Hill, Sarum House and King Street GP surgeries.

Developers Prime PLC said despite a short delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the centre is on track to be completed this autumn.

Following the initial coronavirus shutdown, contractors Speller Metcalfe restarted construction on site at the end of April under new measures introduced by the Construction Leadership Council.

The design of the surgery has also evolved to respond to the pandemic, with protective guards to be fitted around the reception desk and surfaces finished in materials designed to withstand hypochlorite cleaning which ensures infection control.

The exterior of the building is now complete and watertight, and works are progressing inside, with doors fitted and floor coverings laid, while solar panels are currently being installed to provide clean energy.

Services to be housed in the new surgery include diabetes, midwifery and cardiology clinics, family planning, routine GP appointments and GP urgent care clinics.

Dr Jonathan Duffett, GP partner at Hereford Medical Group said: “We are really looking forward to moving into the new medical centre later this year. This modern, made for purpose, primary care building will be a huge benefit to Hereford.

"It provides us with an appropriate environment to deliver quality healthcare for decades to come with better facilities, accessibility and the flexibility to change with future needs. The completion of the Station Medical Centre comes at a time when local access to health services has never been more important.”

Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Speller Metcalfe said: “At the start of the pandemic we paused operations so that we could implement measures to ensure the safe working of our site team, and consequently the health of their families and the local community.

"As a family business our approach has always been with our people and communities in mind, and we are delighted that the centre is on track to deliver a wide variety of health and care provision for the residents of Hereford.”