Councillors have been assured that patients will continue to receive the same services and be cared for by the same staff when a North Yorkshire GP centre is relocated.
Harewood Medical Practice, in Catterick Garrison, is due to move to the new Catterick Integrated Care Centre later this year.
A report prepared for North Yorkshire Council’s scrutiny of health committee says the move is expected to take place over three days in late October.
Officials have stressed that it is a change of premises only and will not affect patient registrations, practice boundaries or the range of services provided.
The report says plans are in place to minimise disruption during the relocation to the new integrated care facility.
The relocation is being welcomed by North Yorkshire councillor Kevin Foster, who represents the Hipswell and Colburn division.
He said: “This move needs to happen.
“The existing Harewood building is past its sell-by date and this a great opportunity for the practice to go to a modern, purpose-built location where other services are going to be based that will support what the GP practice offers.”
Harewood Medical Practice is the largest GP surgery in Richmondshire, serving around 8,200 registered patients.
Demand is expected to increase significantly over the coming years, with patient numbers forecast to rise to more than 14,000 by 2031 because of housing growth and military rebasing.
During the relocation period, routine appointments will be temporarily reduced while equipment and systems are transferred.
However, patients will still be able to access care through increased telephone triage and remote consultations, while urgent cases will be directed to neighbouring practices or NHS urgent care services if required.
Emergency care will not be affected.
The report concludes there will be no reduction in the quality or range of services available following the move, with an assessment finding overwhelmingly positive benefits for patients, staff and the wider health system.
Among the benefits highlighted are additional consulting and treatment rooms, improved facilities for multidisciplinary teams, better accessibility, and a substantial increase in parking, with 229 visitor spaces and 169 staff spaces available at the new site.
The centre will also include dedicated community and education space and provide greater opportunities for integrated working between NHS, Ministry of Defence and voluntary sector services.
The report acknowledges some short-term risks, including patients being unaware of the relocation, difficulties finding their way around the new building and temporary disruption to routine appointments.
These will be addressed through a communications campaign, clear signage, volunteer support and detailed operational planning.
Patients have been kept informed throughout the development through roadshows, patient participation group meetings, newsletters, social media updates and drop-in events.
Officials said communication would continue before, during and after the relocation to ensure patients were supported throughout the transition.
The new integrated care centre will continue to be served by the same bus routes, with free parking, cycle storage and electric vehicle charging also available.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WILL RICHMOND TODAY AND ALL NEWS OUTLETS STOP PUTTING ‘CATTERICK’ WHEN IT ACTUALLY TELATES TO CATTERICK GARRISON.
VERY LITTLE OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY POSTED ABOUT CATTERICK IS ABOUT CATTERICK IT IS ALL ABPUT THE GARRISON. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE FACTS OF THE PLACE BEING TALKED ABOUT CORRECT. CATTERICK VILLAGE IS A VILLAGE IN ITS OWN RIGHT, NOT TO BE LUMPED IN AS THE GARRISON.