Work has started on the new flagship £7.25 million Beacon Centre for Health in Swansea’s SA1.
Beacon Centre for Health, SA1
It will be home to the Tawe Medical Practice; Port Tennant GP Practice; Eastside Dental Practice; ABM University Health Board services, Swansea University College of Medicine and the Coop Pharmacy.
Discussions to develop the 3,300 square metre building began in 2005 when the SA1 waterfront development to transform the city’s docks was just beginning.
The primary care centre, due to open in 2013, will be on a prominent site at the gateway to SA1.
It will provide a spacious and modern environment over four floors, with a basement car park and a three-storey atrium. When built, it will be the largest primary care facility in the city.
The centre will provide increased capacity for NHS GP and dental services, and a range of NHS services which to date have been provided in hospital settings.
Swansea University’s College of Medicine is an integral part of the development, with purpose-designed training facilities being incorporated into the building for the next generation of doctors.
The contemporary design will incorporate natural zinc cladding and glazing with black face brickwork, and feature cut-out render panels. When fully operational the building will have a through put of up to 3,000 patients a day.
Musculoskeltal Clinical Assessment Services (MCAS), Warfarin Monitoring Services and a range of screening and support services will be provided by ABM in the centre, rather than in hospital settings as is currently the case. This will ensure services are more accessible to the population.
The additional space for NHS dental services means there will be specifically designed accessible space for people with disabilities. The centre will also offer an increased range of GP procedures and clinics.
Apollo Capital Projects, which has developed the scheme on behalf of ABM, has appointed Swansea-based construction company, Dawnus as their construction partners. Dawnus, which has its head office in Morriston, employs many local workers which means this multi-million pound scheme will insure a direct re-investment in the local community.
ABM University Health Board and its construction partners will be working with the City and County of Swansea’s Beyond Bricks and Mortar initiative to maximise the benefits of such a large project to the local workforce. Construction is expected to take around 16 months.
The centre’s name was chosen because ‘Beacon’ signified guidance, hope and reliability in times of need.
Win Griffiths Chairman of ABM University Health Board said: “This will be an outstanding building which will offer state-of-the art facilities for patients and a wonderful environment for staff to work in. We are delighted that we will be able to provide a range of services, like the Warfarin Monitoring Service, at the new centre because this means patients will not need to go onto a busy hospital site.
“A key part of modernising the NHS is taking as many services as possible into the community, closer to people’s homes.”
Rob James, Apollo’s Operational Director said: “Being involved in this development of the Beacon Centre for Health has been very challenging but ultimately enjoyable. Realising ABM’s vision for an integrated centre in SA1 has been very rewarding and we are looking forward to delivering a building that exceeds expectations.”
Thursday, 27 October, 2011.
