PLANS for a state-of-the-art ‘super-surgery’ to serve thousands of patients in the east of Newport have been formally lodged with Newport City Council.

The Newport East Health and Wellbeing Centre will host GP services, dentistry, community health services such as nursing and mental health support and a community pharmacy.

Specialist care and wellbeing support will be provided, along with family and therapy services on issues such as sexual health and speech and language.

Staff accommodation will also be provided in the building.

South Wales Argus:

An artist's impression of the Newport East Health Centre

South Wales Argus:

An artist's impression of the Newport East health centre

The centre is proposed on the site of the current Ringland Health Centre – which would be demolished – along with adjoining land owned by Newport City Council.

A multi-use games area (MUGA), which has been vandalised and attracted anti-social behaviour, will also be relocated under the plans in the outline planning application.

Services provided at Ringland Surgery, Park Surgery and Ringland Dental Surgery would be transferred to the new health centre.

The £26.2 million plan has been in the pipeline for more than 10 years, but is now seen as a key part of wider regeneration plans for Ringland which includes new housing and a modern shopping centre.

South Wales Argus:

The existing Ringland Health Centre in Newport. Picture: Google Maps/Streetview

The centre will make it easy for people to access support by bringing health and wellbeing services together and delivering integrated provision in “high quality buildings”, according to the plans.

“The vision for this new health centre is to become a focus for healthy living within the community,” a design and access statement says.

“A close integration with the local community hub will provide opportunity for a holistic, more integrated approach to health and wellbeing in Ringland.

“It will also provide opportunities for some of the simpler surgery procedures to be carried out locally and in a more relaxing environment.”

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The health centre will be situated next to the recently refurbished community hub, allowing for integration with wider services.

A public car park for the surgery is planned on the existing site of the MUGA, with a total of 108 car parking spaces and 11 disabled spaces proposed.

A planning statement says combining Ringland and Park surgeries to one building will “improve the quality of the offer” and “provide a better economic model” for the health board.

An outline business case (OBC) to be submitted to the Welsh Government says the centre is expected to be ready in three years.

The plans will be assessed by Newport council in the coming months.