Published: August 13th, 2007
Multi-million pound plans for new medical centre unveiled in Burnham

Multi-million pound plans for a brand new medical centre at Berrow were unveiled for the first time at a special public meeting in Burnham-On-Sea on Monday evening (August 13th).

Over 60 members of the public gathered in the town's Love Lane surgery to hear about the proposed Berrow Health Campus in Brent Road, pictured here.

Somerset Primary Care Trust, Burnham GPs, the project's architects and other stakeholders explained how the proposed building would benefit the community.

Dr Harvey Sampson said: "There are three elements to the scheme - an additional medical centre and pharmacy which will enable us to expand our services and space; a new elderly psychiatric day hospital to replace Berrow's Little Court; and a brand new NHS dentist."

He added: "We've been working on this proposal for many years, so it's very good to see these plans on display today."

A planning application for the site is due to be submitted during the next few months, following further consultation with local people and groups.

Richard Wood of the Primary Care Trust added: "We're hoping to get these plans adopted very shortly at the PCT's next executive meeting."

"A full planning application will then be submitted to the district council shortly afterwards."

It was pointed out that the existing surgery is the smallest in Somerset in relation to its size and that the patient list has one of the highest elderly populations in the country. There is also an absence of local dentistry services, the nearest being in Bridgwater and Weston.

Our photo shows (top) Dr Harvey Sampson, Dr R Bowley, Debbie Hale, Terri Huxtable, and Richard Wood of the PCT unveiling the plans