DOCTORS at three Trowbridge surgeries were helping to lay the foundations of the town’s Health Centre this week as work gets underway.

In a project that is expected to take 12 months to complete, construction work has finally begun at Seymour Road which is where the primary care hub will be located.

It was announced earlier this year that Bradford Road, Adcroft and Widbrook surgeries will merge in hope of improving services for patients in the town.

Dr Toby Cookson, GP partner at Bradford Road Medical Centre, said now work in underway, he hopes the public are able to see the GPs working together to move the project forward.

“From our perspective, it is really important for work to begin and it is important for the town,” he added.

“Primary care is upsizing and the move to a situation where we have one organisation looking after 30,000 patients, will have many advantages in joining together as one.

“We will be able to provide a wider range of services with a broader skill mix from clinicians providing them. For example, we will soon be able to have pharmacists, physiotherapists and psychologists all working together in one place.”

Plans for Trowbridge Health Centre have been in the pipeline for nearly 10 years and will see Adcroft surgery’s current premises extended with Widbrook remaining open.

Bradford Road would close, relocating all its services to the health centre which would have a new main entrance on Seymour Road.

Dr Cookson added: “It is unbelievable that we are here with work happening after being in the pipeline for many years. It is exciting times for all three practices and things are looking very positive for all.

“We are building a new organisation and we plan to take the best strengths from all and build on the strengths of all three practices.”

Melhuish and Saunders Building Contractors are carrying out the construction work on the centre which will open in early summer 2017.