9th February 2023
Major refurbishment works completed at Comber Family Practice
Works to undertake a major reconfiguration and upgrade of the premises at Comber Family Practice has recently been completed, assisted by funding provided by the Department of Health (DoH).
Elaine Hunter, Programme Director pictured with Drs Whiteside, Burton and Cullen, and Practice Manager, Laura Kilpatrick
The project was supported under the DoH Primary Care Infrastructure Development Programme.
Elaine Hunter, Programme Director said: “Supporting investment in GP practices is a key priority for the DoH. More than £2 million in funding has been provided across the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area in the last three years, to increase capacity within primary care premises.”
Key drivers for the project included the growth of the practice patient list in recent years, along with the rollout of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) initiative within the Ards area.
New physio room in the practice
The MDT includes Physiotherapists, Social Workers and Mental Health workers who work in general practice, alongside GPs and Nursing staff. The MDT model aims to deliver more services closer to patients’ homes.
Comber Family Practice currently provides services for almost 7,800 patients in Comber and the surrounding areas. The practice comprises over 25 staff, including nursing staff, phlebotomists, pharmacists, a counsellor, and an MDT physio working alongside the GP team. The practice also participates in GP training.
The reconfiguration of the premises, which is adjacent to the Practice’s main surgery in Comber Health Centre, has enabled the creation of a new physio room and a new interview room for mental health and social work sessions on the ground floor, with the relocation of admin space to the first floor.
New consulting rooms on ground floor
Whilst undertaking the works significant improvements were also made to the existing GP surgeries, the reception and waiting space, and to the disability access arrangements for the building through the addition of a new automatic entrance foyer.