The Department of Health is pleased to announce that the relocation of Peel GP Group Practice to its new premises has moved a step closer with the handing over of the keys to the new medical centre. Les Nicholl of NK Joinery handed keys for the new Peel Medical Centre at Albany Road to David Anderson MHK, Minister for Health on Friday 11 February 2011 in a short, informal ceremony at the site of the new practice. Local GPs Dr Guild and Dr Jones from Peel Group Practice were on hand for the milestone where they toured the new state of the art facility with David Anderson MHK, Dudley Butt MLC, Member for Health and Member for Peel, Tim Crookall MHK. It is planned that Peel Group Practice will move to their new premises over the weekend of 25th to 28th February 2011. The long awaited move will take them to a new, purpose built surgery in Peel that will give them increased room to offer enhanced services for patients. Mr David Anderson MHK, Minister for Health, said “I am very pleased to be here and receive the keys for the premises from the contractor, NK Joinery. It is a truly impressive facility and I’m sure that the Doctors, Nurses, staff and patients will be very pleased with what has been achieved with this new build and the opportunities it will provide. The provision of this facility would not have been possible without the co-operation of the Trustees and Governors of the Corrin Home. I would like to place on record my appreciation to them, and to the residents of the Home, for enabling this facility to be constructed on their grounds.” The new surgery, which is just over double the size of the current one, will provide space to comfortably house the five doctors, three nurses and twelve administration staff that are needed to continue to provide a high quality service for the Practice’s 8,100 patients. The Practice will also continue to be the base for the Community Nursing Team for the West of the Island. New features of the surgery at Albany Road include greatly improved access and facilities for people with reduced mobility, a dedicated car park and a well appointed treatment room for minor operations and other procedures. This room is easily accessible by the ambulance service should it be required. In the waiting room there will be a special play area for children, a breast feeding area, as well as a ‘quiet room’ in which patients who are distressed can wait to see the doctor or nurse. It will also enable isolation of patients when necessary. The ‘behind the scenes’ facilities are also of a high standard, with a staff room, enhanced patient notes storage and badly needed stock and storage space. - ENDS -