EMERSONS Green Medical Centre is back in action, almost two years after it was suddenly forced to close.
The surgery in St Luke’s Close, which has more than 11,000 patients on its books, reopened to patients on September 14.
Staff were on duty from 7.30am, ensuring everything was ready for people to arrive for routine and emergency appointments.
The surgery had to shut in October 2024 when the building’s water and heating failed.
Green Valleys Health, the medical practice which runs the surgery, said the closure had been “necessary for infection control and patient comfort”.
But the process of finding funds for the repairs took longer than expected, and it wasn’t until April of this year that the practice confirmed it had reached an agreement with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is in charge of funding NHS services, for work to start.
The work took place over the summer and, following a clean-up and health and safety checks in September, the centre was cleared to reopen.
A Green Valleys Health spokesperson said: “The team have been looking forward to providing care from Emersons Green once again.
“Following the temporary closure, we are delighted to welcome patients back to the surgery.
“The building has a new heating and water system, new lighting and has had some redecoration.
“Once again, we would like to offer our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and disruption that the closure may have caused.
“We are grateful for everyone’s patience, understanding, and continued support.”
During the closure patients who usually had appointments at the centre were diverted to the practice’s other two surgeries, Leap Valley in Downend and Abbotswood, in Yate, with most attending Leap Valley.
Councillors on South Gloucestershire Council’s health scrutiny committee raised concerns that some patients had trouble reaching the other surgery, and that waiting times for appointments had gone up.
Patient frustration was in evidence during the two national NHS GP patient surveys taken during the closure: last year only 32% of Emersons Green patients said their experience of the practice was good, and this year it was 45%, compared national averages of 75% and 77% respectively.