Patients praise plan to transform pub into surgery

Residents have said they hope plans to convert an abandoned pub into part of a neighbouring doctors' surgery will improve waiting times and NHS services.

The Inkerman, in Norwich Road in Ipswich, pulled its final pint and closed its doors to punters back in 2022 and has remained empty ever since.

But it could now be extended and bolted on to the Cardinal Medical Practice, boasting more clinical rooms, group rooms, ancillary rooms and waiting areas.

Planning bosses at Ipswich Borough Council have recommended the proposals are approved at a meeting next week, "subject to no substantive objections".

Resident Andrew Haffer, 78, described the proposals as "excellent" and was relieved the pub was not being replaced with another takeaway restaurant.

"You never hear of hospitals being built or surgeries increasing, all they do is put more people in the surgeries on the poor old doctors," he said.

"So, I think it is a very good idea... that will take the pressure off the actual doctors and staff, so it should make for a better service."

Selina Chapman, 66, agrees.

"The surgery I go to now, I must admit it is very, very, good, but yeah, [there needs to be more GP services], most definitely," she told the BBC.

"So, I think it is a good idea, definitely - the more the merrier."

The current surgery is home to about 10 clinical rooms, but this could increase to 16.

The extension would also create 12 new parking spaces and 327 sq m of additional floorspace for the practice, which currently has 27,307 patients on its books.

It is not yet known if the extra space would result in more doctors being based at the site, but Yaseen Moksud, 19, said it would be "amazing" if this happened.

"If you have more GPs, there will be less stress on the NHS and a decrease in waiting times, so it will be a good chance for people to get the services they need, faster."

The application was submitted in October, a year after it was revealed plans for a so-called "super surgery" at the former Tooks Bakery site, costing £7.75m, had been axed.

The NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) wanted to build a new practice for patients treated by the Cardinal Medical Practice.

Funded by the NHS, and project-managed by Ipswich Borough Council, the health complex was meant to be open in 2025.

Ed Garratt, chief executive of the ICB, told the BBC in January that alternative sites had been identified and he wanted "spades in the ground" by the start the of the festive season.

A spokesperson for the ICB said welcomed the Cardinal Medical Practice plans and said they would "bolster future health provision".

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.