A brand new medical centre in Sutton is under construction and making "fantastic progress" as part of efforts to tackle a growing patient list in the borough.

Construction of the new development, a branch of the Benhill and Belmont Practice in Sutton, reached a significant milestone this week with a 'golden brick' event held to celebrate the progress.

The new surgery will help the practice provide more services in a "medical centre fit for the future" and will be a "significant asset for primary care in the area."

Due to be completed by May 2022, the development will create a new primary care building at the former Henderson hospital site to replace the practice’s existing premises, which are no longer fit to accommodate care for its growing patient list.

The new two-storey building is being built on the historical site and will create modern, purpose-built space so that the practice can meet the needs of the growing local population and offer patients a wider range of primary care services after outgrowing its existing premises.

Your Local Guardian: Local MP 3.) Paul Scully was delighted to see the progress made with the building.Local MP 3.) Paul Scully was delighted to see the progress made with the building.

The event was attended by big local names including Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam, Lou Naidu from NHS South West London CCG and practice staff.

Paul Scully MP said: “I was delighted to see the fantastic progress that’s being made in building the new and much needed surgery on the former Henderson Hospital site by the Benhill & Belmont GP Practice.

“Whilst Belmont and South Sutton will be getting a new hospital as well as the London Cancer Hub, primary care is just as vital for local health outcomes, and it was an honour to see for myself the development that is taking place to facilitate those improved outcomes over the coming years.”

Your Local Guardian: 1.) From L to R: Gemma Waterman, Deputy Practice Manager Benhill and Belmont GP Centre, Matt Beale, Project Manager Arkay Building Services, Dawn Dennis, Practice Manager Benhill and Belmont GP Centre, Paul Scully MP for Sutton and Cheam, Martin Dawson, Project Manager at Assura, Dr Shazma Mawani, Partner Benhill and Belmont GP Centre.1.) From L to R: Gemma Waterman, Deputy Practice Manager Benhill and Belmont GP Centre, Matt Beale, Project Manager Arkay Building Services, Dawn Dennis, Practice Manager Benhill and Belmont GP Centre, Paul Scully MP for Sutton and Cheam, Martin Dawson, Project Manager at Assura, Dr Shazma Mawani, Partner Benhill and Belmont GP Centre.

Dr Dino Pardhanani, Clinical Chair, Sutton Borough Team, NHS SWL CCG said: “We are pleased to see the progress that has been made on the new build so far and believe that the building will be a significant asset for primary care in the area.

"We are delighted that local residents will have access to a modern facility with additional services for patients delivered from the new building.”

Dawn Dennis, Practice Manager for Benhill and Belmont Practice, said: “It is really pleasing to see the works progressing as well as they are.

"The pandemic has shown the importance of having primary care buildings that are fit for the future and the new building will provide a much better working environment for all of our staff and help us provide better quality care for our patients.”

Dr Jeffrey Croucher, GP Partner based at the Belmont Surgery and one of the clinical team that will serve in the new facility said: “All of us at the practice are really excited to see the work progressing well on our new building.

"The new surgery will help us provide more services for our patients in a medical centre which is fit for the future.”

The new building will provide improved access to some diagnostic services such as phlebotomy, improved capacity for outpatient consultations and follow ups, a safe space for minor procedures, opportunities for integrated working with community healthcare teams and a closer working relationship between primary care and pharmacy clinicians.