Keady is set for a huge investment in health service provision with plans for a major extension to the local health clinic and day centre, Armagh I can exclusively reveal.
The development – at Annvale Road in the town – is estimated to cost in the region of £1.5 million.
An application for the work has been submitted by the Southern Health Trust’s Estates Services to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for consideration.
If approved, it would see an additional 32 staff on site daily with the town’s health facilities more than doubling in size.
The plans would involve the creation of a two-storey extension – offering additional floorspace of close to 5,000 sq ft – to the existing health clinic and day centre.
This would facilitate the provision of additional GP services including treatment and exam rooms, offices, staff toilets and store facilities.
A number of small buildings on site would have to be demolished to make way for the extension.
And elsewhere on the site, the plan is to locate a new single storey modular health clinic.
This would include a waiting area, separate office accommodation for district nurses and health visitors, together with treatment rooms – both clinical and podiatry – and toilet facilities, including disabled provision, for both patients and staff. There would be a lead health visitor’s office too, as well as storage.
Work would also be carried out to create additional car parking spaces – over 60 to be precise – to cope with demand for the increased number of services provided on site.
Under the new proposals, the new-look Keady GP surgery would have enhanced facilities and services.
The ground floor would have a waiting area with seating for 24 patients or visitors, as well as a lobby and reception, two treatment rooms, physio, patient toilets, baby changing area, records store, interview room and a dedicated room for giving bloods.
There would also be admin rooms, storage and utility room.
The two-storey extension – to be accessed from the main building via a corridor – would boast practice nurse accommodation as well as seven examination rooms on the ground floor.
The upper floor of the two-storey extension – which would be linked by both stairs and lift – would provide office accommodation for the practice manager and assistant practice manager, as well as general offices, stores, disabled toilet provision, staff common room and rest facilities and staff training area.
Taken as a whole, the existing facilities offer floorspace of just over 4,000 sq ft. The extension and modular health clinic would see the new GP surgery and health clinic boasting floorspace of approaching 11,000 sq ft.
The number of staff on site daily has been estimated to rise from the current 23 to 55 – an increase of 32.
Neighbours in the area are to notified of the proposals, including those in the Tassagh Road, together with the Annvale Road, Annvale Gardens and Annvale Green residential developments.
The proposals for the extension and health clinic are now with ABC Council.
They are due to be publicly advertised this week and a decision expected later in the year.
