Tessa Jowell Health Centre - when will it open?

[1921]

Does anyone know when it will start registering new patients ?

[dbboy]

Probably not high up on a list of priorities given we're in the middle of a world pandemic!!!

[1921]

I was only asking, and not even for myself. For my elderly neighbour who is waiting to join a dr's surgery closer to their house and has been waiting for spring to arrive.

No need for your sanctimonious, grammatically incorrect reply DDBOY

[dbboy]

Suggest you ask either one of the local councillors or Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group, one or the other may be able to provide you with the answer you seek, but don't hold your breath.

[rch]

I tend to walk by there as part of my regular exercise routine, and was astonished to see one of the Wilmott Dixon managers, who I know, a couple of weeks ago... so, I stood 2 metres away and asked him when it was due to open.

My understanding is that the building works were completed on April 20th and that the centre was scheduled to open on May 20th, but I'm not sure if this has been definitely confirmed due to the current situation. One of the security guards informed me that there was a formal inspection a couple of weeks ago, presumably to sign off the building works.

I've also seen moving vans on site, so I'm guessing all the GP surgeries are furnished now and ready to go?

Am curious to see when the Melbourne Grove Medical Centre moves across and then see what happens to that site... as it's owned outright by the NHS, I suspect the freehold will be sold to a developer to knock down and build housing (which will require Change of Use and planning permission), which will provide some much-needed funds to pay off part of the high-interest loan that funded the building of the Tessa Jowell Centre.

[ed_pete]

The plans are for 4, 3-bed houses. Planning Application Reference is 19/AP/7582

[rch]

Thanks for the Planning App Reference, ed_pete. I seem to have missed the lamp post notice even though I walk by there fairly frequently.

Intriguingly, the application was submitted by the NHS, so it will be interesting to see if they build the houses themselves in order to add the rental income to their budgets. Or maybe they hope to get a higher sales figure by selling the freehold with planning permission? Sadly, property values are falling in this pandemic, so I'm assuming that the sale of the property will be put on hold for a while.

The proposal looks quite sensible in the context of the neighbourhood... I suspect a developer would have tried to cram in a high level, high density nightmare of flats.

[rch]

Update to the opening time query...

As I walked by yesterday, I said hi again to the nice security guard and asked him if the opening date was still in May. He said it had now been pushed back to the beginning of June now... the 1st of June is a Monday, so maybe they're shooting for that date?

There were more moving vans unloading and skips being removed, so it looks like everything is getting closer, bit by bit!

Can't find anything online, would be useful to know more. Would also be useful to know who is managing it, as I can't see Concordia's business name or staff references anywhere...

[first mate]

Think Concordia, Hambledon and another organisation, have all merged into one mega super practice with a new name...so transparent.

I am still uncomfortable that Southwark?s fave ?pet? super practice Concordia (run by a doctor and a clutch of investment bankers) and responsible for the historically appalling MGMP, won this bid. What a prize for so little merit.