St Mary’s Medical Centre Secures Future with Renovation Agreement

The future of the St Mary’s Medical Centre in Wharf Road, Stamford, has been secured following an agreement for extensive refurbishment of the facility. This development comes after a turbulent period since September 2020, when Lakeside Healthcare announced plans to close the centre in favour of the nearby Sheepmarket Surgery. Patient protests and petitions have since prompted continued operations at St Mary’s alongside Sheepmarket.

Concerns regarding the state of the St Mary’s building escalated during an annual patient meeting last year. Attendees learned that multiple areas of the facility were deemed off-limits due to issues of dampness and deterioration. The responsibility for funding repairs has been a contentious issue involving the property’s landlords, Dr Gavin Kelly and Dr John Boulton, the GP services provider and tenant, Lakeside, and the commissioning body, the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), previously known as the NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

In a statement to LincsOnline, Dr Kelly, who retired in 2008, expressed optimism regarding the new lease, stating, “This includes an extensive refurbishment programme to improve the premises for staff and patients.” This sentiment was echoed by Dr Gavin Cattigan, GP partner at Stamford Surgery, who confirmed the lease signing and outlined a schedule of works aimed at addressing the damp issues and other repairs.

Dr Cattigan stated, “We have agreed a schedule of works that will deal with the damp issues in the building as well as other repairs, which will improve the environment for our staff and patients. We expect these works to start in the coming months.” He acknowledged potential inconveniences during the renovation process, thanking the ICB and the landlords for their collaboration in reaching a resolution. Dr Cattigan also expressed gratitude to the Stamford patients for their patience throughout this period.

The refurbishment of St Mary’s Medical Centre not only enhances the physical environment but also aims to restore confidence among patients who have expressed their concerns over the facility’s future. As work begins, local residents can look forward to improved services in a more welcoming setting.