Major Plans To Redevelop Chiswick Health Centre

Patients face disruption for two years as GPs are temporarily relocated

Major plans are in the pipeline for a redevelopment of Chiswick Health Centre, which could see it close for two years. While building is carried out on the new premises, GPs and other health services based at the site would need to be relocated.

The Fisher's Lane centre is in need of refurbishment and one plan proposed would see the health centre rebuilt with flats located on top, which would help offset some of the cost.

Chiswick Health Centre is one of six primary care hubs that will be serving the population of Hounslow borough. It is envisaged that these hubs will provide enhanced out of hospital care from GPs and other community providers but the current facilities do no allow this.
The capital funding for the building has already been identified under the Shaping a Healthier Future Implementation Business Case however this does not include costs associated with fitting out the new premises.

The project would involve a good deal of disruption as it is likely to be challenging to relocate the GP practices and ancilliary services for up to two years while rebuilding takes place.

Premises large enough to deal with demand from across Chiswick would be extremely difficult to find and, as yet, there has been no suitable alternative suggestion.

One idea was that the GP practices move to Grove Park, but again, finding a suitably large site would be difficult. Another suggestion is that the practices split up and take smaller offices closer to the High Road.

A relocation to Grove Park is likely to be very unpopular with patients who live close to Chiswick High Road, particularly the many elderly patients who use the Fisher's Lane centre. Issues such as parking, and disabled access would be major considerations.

The Patient's Group newsletter refers to the future proposal stating: "If these plans take place, the doctors would be 'decanted' (moved) probably to Grove Park for the approx two years of construction work."

The Patient's Group says it has been promised sight of the plans and a consultation period to discuss them before any final decisions are made" but it seems this will be some time away."

An application was made to Hounslow Council for Community Infrastructure Levy funding for the project. Under this scheme money is paid by developers as a condition of receiving planning permission. The application was turned down as it was decided that the funds would not be needed until 2019/20. It was determined that £100,000 would be earmarked for that year with £400,000 set aside for the following year.

April 6, 2018