Around 25,000 patients in Cheltenham are set to benefit from the town's new healthcare centre which opened to patients yesterday, June 20.

The Wilson Health Centre, located on Prestbury Road, is now home to three busy GP surgeries - Berkeley Place Surgery, Prestbury Park Medica and Royal Crescent Surgery.

NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said the new facility brings a real transformation to GP services in this part of Cheltenham, allowing the practices to expand their services to meet the ever-increasing health and care needs of their patients.

The new premises are said to have been built to modern, environmentally-friendly specifications and include more consulting and treatment rooms than were possible in the three old premises, which the practices had outgrown.

It is hoped this will enable the practices to offer additional services to patients and the local community, including support from nurses, paramedics and pharmacists as well as an onsite pharmacy, dental services, rooms to rent and more.

The practices will also be able to share resources, work more flexibly and offer extended opening times to patients whilst significantly more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals will be able to receive training.

Dr Jim Ropner, partner at Berkeley Place Surgery said: "After many years of careful planning and a huge amount of work, we are delighted to be moving into our new premises.

"We have put a lot of thought and effort into creating and constructing an attractive and modern 'green' building that is accessible to our patients and that creates positive impacts on the surrounding natural environment.

"Resources such as water and energy will be used efficiently, and we have used ethical, non-toxic and sustainable materials as much as possible.

"We would love to hear from community groups who would be interested in working with us to make the best possible use of the new space for the benefit of our patients. We hope everyone will be able to benefit from this stunning new building."

Sanjay Shyamapant, partner at Prestbury Park Medical said: "We are extremely grateful to BKBS and Carl Dean Associates for enabling us to realise this scheme and to our patients for their contributions that have helped us create premises that will enable us to offer first-rate care to our patients and provide high quality services for years to come.

"We look forward to welcoming our patients, both old and new."

Dr Phil Kurlbaum, partner at Royal Crescent Surgery, said: "We are delighted and extremely grateful to be part of this exciting project to move into modern, purpose-built premises.

"We will continue to provide excellent general practice services to our patients. We are also looking forward to engaging with the other two practices in order to make the new building work for us and our patients in the best possible way.

"The new building will mean that patients can benefit from the expertise of the range of professionals within surgery teams, such as nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and social prescribers.

"I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our very dedicated practice team for their excellent support, dedication and understanding in this period of change."

Director of Primary Care at NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Helen Goodey said: "This development gives healthcare in Cheltenham a major boost, with patients being able to benefit from modern, spacious facilities that support staff to provide high quality care.

"The CCG has been delighted to back this exciting development and we are thrilled that the GP surgeries are now offering services from their superb new premises."

Jo Bewley, commercial property partner for BPE Solicitors said: "We were delighted to work with the GP team and utilise our expertise in super surgery developments so that Cheltenham can benefit from the new Wilson Health Centre. This is a project our property team have been working on since 2019 and we are delighted to see the surgery built and already serving the health and care needs of Cheltenham's patients."

The Wilson Health Centre was given its name in recognition of the famous Cheltenham-born and educated doctor and Arctic explorer who died with Captain Scott in 1912.

An official opening event will be held in autumn 2022.