GP surgery expands after surge in young patients

Shoreham Street surgery is set to relocate and expand to New Era Square

A GP surgery in Sheffield city centre is set to relocate and expand to cope with an influx of young people.

Sheffield Council said the Shoreham Street surgery was "under significant demand pressures" as more young people had moved to live in the city centre.

It only has two consulting rooms and one nurse's room but has seen a 25% rise in the number of patients from 2,993 in March 2022 to 3,686 in March 2024.

There are now plans to relocate it to the New Era Square development near London Road.

In a report, Sheffield Council officers said: “The current GP premises at Shoreham Street are not fit for purpose to accommodate the population growth expected in this neighbourhood. The practice is under significant demand pressures already.

"The growth in population in this area has mainly come from younger people moving into the catchment area from elsewhere, many of whom don’t speak English as a first language and are unlikely or unable to travel further to other general practice surgeries.

“If the situation continues, the practice is considering applying to NHS England to close their list to new patient registrations because of the increasing challenge.”

'Fit for purpose'

The new surgery would have four consulting rooms, two treatment rooms and expanded training facilities.

It would accommodate 6,500 patients, an increase of 3,500 on the maximum capacity of Shoreham Street practice.

Sheffield Council is currently considering how to redevelop the Moorfoot building – close to New Era Square - into a new neighbourhood, with a potential for more than 2,000 flats by 2039.

The report adds: “The relocation and expansion of the Shoreham Street surgery to the New Era Square development... will not only address the current shortfall of GP provision, but should also ensure that provision remains fit for purpose for the next few years.

“The expansion of the surgery will safeguard future provision for up to 2,500 new households alongside the existing community.”

The NHS has committed £233,000 to the scheme and Sheffield Council will add £200,000.