North Park Health Centre in Bootle has been showing off its half a million pound makeover at a special celebration event for patients that was also attended by number of local VIPs.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr June Burns helped the GP practice mark the occasion by officially reopening North Park at the event, giving the refurbishment her seal of approval. She was joined by the practice’s oldest patient, 102 year old Ron Manson a patient of North Park since 1945, who also gave the renovation the thumbs up along with Mr and Mrs Rome who have been patients at the surgery for 84 years and Doris Baxter who has been a patient here for over 80 years.

Mr and Mrs Rome feel the new refurbishment has a positive impact on their health care. Mr Rome quoted “It is a pleasure to be sick coming to such a fabulous surgery!”  

The building was in need of comprehensive refurbishment, which the Care Quality Commission highlighted during its last inspection of the premises. All areas of the practice have been touched by the renovations, from the clinical and patient waiting areas to additional minor surgery facilities. The practice is now more accessible and even the car park has been improved.

Catherine Riley, manager at North Park Health Centre, said: “Our patients have been blown away by the changes. Before the work, the practice was very dark and dismal. Now we offer a bright and modern environment, you can see the difference on the faces of everyone who has seen the transformation. It also makes such a difference to those of us who work here; we enjoy coming to work even more than ever!

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the project manager Margy James, our architect Neil Hutchinson and the contractors Kroll Corlett who have done a brilliant job transforming our practice”

Eric Balki, TCG medical services director who run the practice, said: “It is of great pleasure to me and our staff that we have seen the final stages of complete transformation of North Park and making it now one of the best Health Centres in Liverpool. I could not be more proud of the team.”   

The practice’s transformation was approved by NHS England, who worked with the surgery and NHS Property Services to make the refurbishment possible whilst patients continued to be seen and cared for.

Mark Lloyd, principal construction manager for NHS Property Services, said: “We are pleased to have delivered this much needed refurbishment project, which will benefit the staff and patients of North Park Health centre for many years to come. We would like to thank the staff and patients for their patience during construction work and for a great collaborative achievement.”

David Scannell, Head of Primary Care at NHS England - North West said: “NHS England is delighted that this substantial refurbishment has now been completed.  The investment made into North Park will support the practice and the wider primary care network to improve on the excellent care offered to patients by the practice, with the potential now for a wider range of primary care services to be offered to the local community.”