JUDGING by the comments from patients of the Shildon Health Centre, recent refurbishment work on the building has been highly successful, with one person describing the centre as ‘light and welcoming’ and another saying the work has ‘brought an old building back to life’.

Shildon Health Centre has recently completed a programme of refurbishment work to improve the patient environment.

Clinical and office areas received a facelift, but the most noticeable difference was in the centre’s reception area, which has been redesigned to improve the flow of patients into the building and offer a more welcoming environment.

The works were undertaken by Kier Group Ltd, via a new partnership framework the PCT was using for the first time. The scheme was jointly managed by Durham and Tees Community Ventures (a public-private partnership) and a project manager from the PCT’s estates team, with input from the GP practice and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

The architects for the project – which was committed to using local companies and supply chains where possible – were Beaumontbrown Architects from Castle Eden.

“The new working environment has had a positive impact for both patients and staff and we have received some really positive feedback from patients,” said Janet Stephenson, the health centre’s practice manager.

Mike Furze, regional director for maintenance with Kier, said: “We always strive to deliver projects to budget and on time. By assessing the working needs of the health centre we were able to deliver the best results with minimal disruption to patients.

“We hope that the new facilities will help doctors and nurses to provide the best possible service to local people.”