Pictured: In the foreground group from left to right, Joanne Hope, Practice Manager at Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice, David Hartshorne, COO Ashley House plc, Dr. Martin Camm Senior Partner, Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice

A ceremony has been held to commemorate the topping out of the new Balsall Common Health Centre due to open next spring.

Developer Ashley House has been working with The Balsall Common & Meriden Group Practice and Solihull PCT for a number of years and appointed Derbyshire firm Wildgoose Construction to build the new centre.

Nine doctors will serve 12,500 patients at the centre, Hallmeadow Road, Balsall Common, Coventry, and at the practice's branch surgery in nearby Meriden.

A topping out ceremony has been held at the centre which will open to patients in spring 2012.

The Balsall Common Health Centre is an integrated Primary Care Centre and alongside the Meriden surgery it will offer services such as physiotherapy; chiropody; mental health services; Aquarius counselling and health visitors.

The centre will replace the practice's existing premises which are a short distance away in Meeting House Lane and offer only doctor, nurse appointments and a community ENT clinic because of limited space. 

Balsall Common Clinic, operated by Solihull Primary Care Trust, will also be relocated to the new building. The PCT space will house a community nursing team and an NHS dentist. The completed building is also home to a retail pharmacy.

Tim Walker, managing director of Wildgoose Construction, said: "We are delighted to be working with Ashley House on this new healthcare facility, which will greatly enhance the patient care facilities in Balsall Common and the surrounding area. 

"The architects have designed a state-of-the-art building, sympathetic to the needs of the client and the local area and our onsite construction team is working hard to ensure that the  building is completed within budget and to the highest specification and quality standards."

Joanne Hope, practice manager at Balsall Common and Meriden Group Practice, said: "The provision of primary healthcare is undergoing significant change; the new health centre will allow the practice and patients to take full advantage of these changes in the delivery and receipt of healthcare. Everyone at the practice is looking forward to working with patients and other agencies to make the most of this wonderful opportunity."

Janet Marston, development manager at Ashley House plc, said: "Working with the end users, the Medical Topics Group and the community we have been able to design a building fit for purpose that will benefit the local community for years to come."

For more information about Wildgoose Construction, please visit their website here: www.wildgooseconstruction.co.uk