An event to show off the new reception area, consulting rooms and meeting facilities will be held at 125 Newmarket Road tomorrow (Weds). It will be attended by Councillor Kevin Price, the City Council’s Executive Councillor for Housing, Julian Huppert MP, local councillors, health staff, homelessness workers and others who have made the project possible.
Plans are now underway to attract complementary services to set up in the building, creating a first-class medical centre for a group of people who typically experience very poor health outcomes and shortened lives.
First opened in 2003, the surgery has become a valued centre of expertise for the healthcare needs of a population which tends to steer clear of regular health services – until there is an emergency.
Working closely with the council and local homelessness services, the surgery has around 450 patients on its books and deals with over 10,000 appointments a year.
Cllr Kevin Price said: “After 10 years the building was in real need of a facelift, and the renovation work has created a fresh new environment for this unique and valuable service.”
“Cambridge is a caring city, and now we will be able to provide first-class health care to some of our most vulnerable people. It also makes enormous economic sense to deal with health problems as early as possible in the community rather than later in an expensive hospital emergency facility.”
Dr Tom Reichhelm, managing director of medical services provider Malling Health said: “Malling Health took over the surgery two years ago. We fully share the council’s vision to make 125 Newmarket a centre catering for all the health and advice needs of the city’s homeless and street population.
“We very much look forward to working with fellow professionals providing complementary services. Our bright new building and modern clinical rooms will be welcomed by our staff of ten – including four part-time GPs and two nurses – and, most importantly, by our patients.”
Providers – particularly of health services such as chiropody and podiatry, physiotherapy and oral health – interested in renting space at the surgery should contact James McWilliams at Cambridge City Council on 01223 457813 or james.mcwilliams@cambridge.gov.uk
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Contacts
Cllr Kevin Price (Labour) Executive Councillor for Housing, email: kevin.price@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 07964 280689
Cllr Andy Blackhurst (Liberal Democrat) Opposition spokesperson, email: andy.blackhurst@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 511937
Cllr Marie-Louise Holland (Independent/ Conservative), Opposition spokesperson, email: marie-louise.holland@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 564126
Liz Bisset, Director of Customer and Community Services, email: liz.bisset@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 457801
Alan Carter, Head of Strategic Housing, email: alan.carter@cambridge.gov.uk, tel: 01223 457948
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£180,000 facelift for 'unique' medical service for local homeless people
24 February 2015
A GP’s surgery in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, which provides a ‘unique service’ to the city’s homeless and street population, has had a £180,000 refit, paid for by Cambridge City Council which owns the building.