Chesham Healthzone construction to start seven months late

Town and District Councillor Noel Brown said: "This is very good news. It's something we have been waiting a long time for and something Chesham has been desperate for ever since the closure of the hospital. It has taken a lot of banging heads together but it finally looks like we are moving forward.

"All I've got to do now is see some builders on the ground and I will be happy."

When complete the new medical centre, in Berkhampstead Road, will accommodate two of the GP practices currently based in Chesham, The New Surgery, in Lindo Close, and The Surgery in Gladstone Road.

Bucks PCT hope to have the Healthzone built by early 2012 and it will include a pharmacy, 14 consulting rooms, 10 multi-purpose clinical rooms, three treatment rooms, 34 consulting rooms and a generous number of parking spaces.

It will provide the opportunity to develop and deliver a range of additional locally based services, such as those that support the management of long term conditions and it will allow patients to access these services closer to home for the first time since the closure of Chesham Hospital, in Hospital Hill, six years ago.

Councillor Isobel Darby, Chiltern District Council's cabinet member for health and housing, said: "We are delighted that things are now moving ahead. It's taken an awfully long time but lets look forward to the future of a wonderful new service for the people of Chesham."

Bucks PCT have said that this additional facility within the heart of Chesham will help to further improve the health and well-being of the local population.

- How do you feel about a start date for work being announced? What do you think about the Healthzone? Email camillagoodman@trinitysouth.co.uk