Stretched GP surgery set for new base

A surgery that currently caters for nearly double the number of people it was originally meant to serve is set to get planning permission for a new base.

Eastfield House Surgery in St John's Road, Newbury, was built 33 years ago with an intended capacity of 8,000 patients but currently has 15,500.

A new site near Newbury College was supported by 86% of its current patients in a survey taken late last year.

West Berkshire Council's western area planning committee is set to agree the plan at a meeting on Wednesday after officers said it should be allowed.

The surgery would be built on land north of Highwood Copse Primary School and south of the current college's buildings.

The council's officer said the project would "provide much needed suitable healthcare facilities for the current and future population".

Surgery representatives said in December it had considered 17 sites but the proposed location was ideal.

Doctors Emma Featherstone, Anne Maloney and Mark Galliver said staff and patients were struggling with "significant limitations".

"The existing practice was extended in 2012 by a further three consulting rooms and two temporary cabins were installed in the surgery car park in May 2023 for a two-year period," they said.

"However, the practice is still significantly undersized and is limited in consultation rooms, administrative space, patient waiting area, car parking and basic facilities such as staff/meeting room and bathroom facilities."

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