Canvey Primary Care Centre is open for business

Canvey Primary Care Centre, next to the Paddocks, in Long Road, is now open and providing state-of-the-art facilities for GPs and other staff previously based at three island surgeries.

Two more practices are due to move in by the end of the month.

The idea is to bring together local GP services with a range of services not usually provided by GPs.

When it is fully open, the new centre will also boast a baby weighing clinic, a purpose-built leg ulcer clinic, a chiropodist and antenatal classes.

Speech and language therapists currently at the Knightswick Clinic will also be moving there, along with a blood testing unit.

A minor operations suite will also be run by Dr Mahesh Kamdar, of the Oaklands Surgery, offering procedures such as vasectomies and mole removals.

Patient Jane Hastings, 36, of Twysel Road, Canvey said: “It’s clean and it’s new. Compared to our old surgery it’s state-of-the-art.

“The move didn’t bother me, as it’s just as easy to get to as the old surgery.”

Peter Lepley, 73, of Myel Avenue, Canvey, said: “This is the first time I have been here, but I’m seriously impressed.

“The island has always needed some kind of cottage hospital and this seems pretty close.”

The Island Surgery and Dr Pratin Chaudhury’s practice used to share premises in Furtherwick Road. They were the first to move in, on the weekend of February 28.

The Graftons practice moved in from its Grafton Road surgery last weekend, with the team from Leigh Beck Surgery hot on its heels, this coming weekend.

The Oak Lane Practice will complete the set on the weekend of March 23.

All the practices are on the first floor, with lifts making for easy access. Each has its own waiting area, reception area, and distinctive, colour-co-ordinated decor, part of an effort to preserve the practices’ identities.

Island Surgery GP Ana Linacero-Gracia – known to most patients simply as Dr Ana – says she doesn’t think sharing the building will change the way each practice works too much.

She said: “We are still independent practices.

“We don’t work together, but it will have advantages. For instance, it will be easier to accommodate extra services on site in the rest of the centre.”

She has some concerns about the accessibility for people with disabilities of the surgery furthest from the front door.

She explained: “A few patients have mentioned it to me and it is quite a long way from the car park.

“There are not many disabled spaces and that could be a problem.”

However, Department of Health policy means the new centre has no dedicated parking, except its four disabled spaces and four drop-off slots for staff.

Castle Point Council has agreed to let patients and staff use the car park at the Paddocks Community Centre, but the idea is to encourage patients and staff to walk, as part of a move towards healthier, more environmentally-friendly lifestyles.

Graftons Practice patient Brian Davies, 64, of Central Avenue, Canvey, said: “It’s a big improvement on the old surgery, just for the parking alone.

“It must be much better for the people living by the old surgery, now there are not so many cars going there.”

Doris Crick, 83, of Holton Road, Canvey, has found it easier to get to the new centre.

She said: “I’ve been going to the other surgery for 60 years or more. It’s an enormous change, but very impressive.

“It’s going to help me because I have walking problems and before, I had to get a taxi or two buses.

“Now I can get a bus which drops me off right outside.”

“We’ll have to get used to the layout, but it’s certainly very posh.”