A DATE has been set for a doctors surgery to move into new premises at Christchurch Hospital.

The Grove Surgery will be moving their practice to the newly developed hospital on May 27, one part of the major scheme currently taking place on the site.

Progress is being made at the Fairmile hospital and the main building is now in place with electrical and plastering work continuing.

Included in the structure will be a new X-ray department with two new, state of the art X-ray machines and ultra sound facilities.

This equipment has been generously funded by the Christchurch League of Friends.

There will also be new waiting rooms and changing rooms, as well as staff offices, linked to the main outpatients facility via a new entrance lobby.

And once G Block is demolished, a new outpatients entrance and reception area will be constructed, serving departments including therapies and pathology blood tests.

As well as the new building, work has begun to convert part of Forest Dene and turn it into the new Day Hospital area.

This is due to finish in April, along with proposals to develop a new catering facility for staff and visitors.

And once all of this is completed, the demolition of the current Day Hospital and G-Block can start, hopefully in

the early summer for around 14 weeks.

Richard Renaut, chief operating officer said: “I’m pleased that 2016 will see the completion of the all the building work at Christchurch and enable us to welcome new neighbours like the Grove GP surgery and pharmacy, as well as the Grange Nursing Home.

“I would like to thank staff for their continued hard work and dedication which has enabled our services to remain on site during all of the disruption, maintaining great patient care in the process.”

Grove surgery opened in the 1980s, with their current practice providing services for around 5,500 people.

Practice manager, John Gregson, said: "This move will be great for patients.

"We will have access to bigger modern rooms which will enable us to offer a wider range of clinical services."

Grove Surgery GP Stephen Tomkins added: “Working in the new and improved environment will make it easier for us to continue providing cutting edge best practice medicine and there is the opportunity to expand and reach more patients."