A SECOND attempt has been launched to expand a Poole GP surgery to cope with thousands of additional patients – as health chiefs insist no decision has been made over the closure of a branch practice.

The proposals for the Banks & Bearwood Medical Practice facility in Knights Road come around a year after an initial plan was rejected primarily due to issues with car parking provision.

Applicant and site owner Primary Health Properties Ltd has put forward a new proposal which involves creating a link to an empty first floor area of the adjoining Co-op store.

There would also be an extension of the existing medical centre facilities to provide additional space.

A statement by Concept Town Planning Ltd on behalf of the applicant says the branch surgery at The Banks Medical Centre in Winton is closing and the practice has “no option other than expand” to meet patient needs. Failure to do so will see these needs “severely compromised”.

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However, a spokesperson for the Banks and Bearwood Medical Practice said the team were awaiting the outcome of the planning application before any further decisions are made regarding the site in Wimborne Road.

“We would like to reassure patients registered with The Banks Medical Centre that no decision on its future has been made and nor will it be until the outcome of our current planning application is known," the spokesperson said.

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"Once we know the outcome, we will consider the next steps and communicate these to patients appropriately.

“We recognise that some people may have concerns and would encourage anyone with questions to speak to a member of staff here at the practice.”

Summarising the reasons for the proposal, the Concept Town Planning Ltd statement says: “This reflects an identified need that has arisen as a result of a number of factors, which includes the continued increase in patient number over recent years, the anticipated closure and merger of patients to the site from the Banks Medical Centre and the significant increase in new homes anticipated and to be realised through the council’s (Borough of Poole’s) Local Plan allocations.”

The development would provide a further five consulting rooms, two additional treatment rooms, a dedicated phlebotomy room and additional administration, meeting and waiting space.

The statement said new housing and population increases will see the practice left to meet the needs of around 4,000 new patients.

Dorset Clinical Commission Group (CCG) said it has “continued full support” for the proposed practice expansion.

A letter to BCP Council’s planning department by Dr Colin Davidson, GP advisor for the CCG’s primary care infrastructure and workforce planning team, said the current building in Knights Road is undersized for current patient numbers.

Dr Davison said: “Dorset CCG has been supporting the GP partners with their surgery reconfiguration and extension due to the pressures on the estate as well as proposed additional housing, particularly in the Canford Magna area with an estimated 2,500 homes and subsequent patient population increase.

“The building expansion will enable patient choice when selecting a local GP practice.”

The previous proposed extension was refused due to issues over lost car parking spaces from the scheme.

To address this, the applicant, who owns the centre complex, negotiated a lease revision with Co-op to use the vacant first floor space “innovatively”, with a connection built with the existing medical facilities.

On the subject of car parking specifically, the applicant and Co-op have reached an agreement for 12 underused staff parking spaces serving the retail unit to be used by the medical centre instead.

Along with re-organisation of the external areas to create a further four spaces, the medical centre is now served by 35 spaces.

The planning application is currently being considered by BCP Council officers.