Warders Medical Centre has announced a consultation regarding the proposed permanent relocation of its surgery to a new, larger, purpose-built building. The move is planned as part of the wider Tonbridge Town Centre development programme.
The existing surgery premises, according to the centre, are no longer adequate to serve the growing needs of their patient population. The current building lacks the necessary space to accommodate required clinical and administrative functions, hindering the ability to provide care for an increasing number of residents. This lack of capacity has also made it challenging to run or introduce new services, attract more staff, or provide training opportunities. Furthermore, the existing space constraints mean doctors often have to vacate consultation rooms before completing paperwork, causing disruption and administrative delays.
The Medical Centre has evaluated all options for the future and concluded that expansion at the current site is not possible.
New Facility to Boost Capacity and Services
The proposed new building is anticipated to bring significant benefits for both the practice and its patients. It will allow the centre to recruit and retain more staff to better serve increasing patient numbers, increase training capacity, and deliver more services to the growing population within their boundary.
Specific plans for the new facility include developing ‘group consultations’ for patients with specific medical problems and increasing capacity for services such as physiotherapy and diagnostic services like ultrasound. Having more suitable rooms consistently available will also allow for an increase in certain types of appointments. The relocation will also facilitate closer collaboration with the voluntary sector, local community, and hospital trusts, potentially offering space for additional services.
For patients, the proposal means all individuals currently registered will be automatically transferred to the new site and will continue to access their primary care services there. Services for housebound patients or those resident in a care or residential home will remain unchanged. The practice is encouraging patients to share their views on the proposal by completing the consultation survey here.
History of Warders Medical Centre
Warders Medical Centre has a long history, with the practice itself having been formed in 1808. The surgery moved to its current location at 47 East Street, Tonbridge, in 1987. The present site comprises an imposing detached Victorian building that has been converted and extended over the years, including the addition of modern extensions and facilities like a pharmacy. There is a wonderful explanation of the centre’s history by David MG Goodridge here. The proposal to move is the latest chapter in the practice’s two-century-long history of serving the people of Tonbridge and the surrounding area.
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