Former Hereford GP surgery reopens to patients

GPs from the Hereford Medical Group vacated Sarum House last year. Since then, the trust has been working to reopen the building, which sits in the shadow of Hereford Cathedral, as an easy to reach clinic for patients which avoids the need for them to visit the main County Hospital site.

A variety of services are now operating from the St Ethelbert Street building including bladder and bowel health, podiatry, speech and language therapy and midwifery clinics alongside a range of others.

“These are exciting times as we’re providing a range of services away from the main hospital in an easy to access building in the city centre,” said Stephanie Kerridge, city locality manager for Wye Valley NHS Trust.

“These are early days and we’re looking to expand and make more clinics available at Sarum House.”

She added that the city district nursing team is trialling a clinic-based service in the building for up to two days a week for non-housebound patients on their caseload which will mainly be focused on catheter care.

“The team will also see patients who need support and education and who are able to attend a clinic.”

A new lower limb service is also being provided in the building and the Trust is also supporting patients who suffer from long-term chronic pain.

“Sarum House clinics include a nurse prescriber, physiotherapist, and clinical psychologist, supported by the pain clinic consultants in Wye Valley NHS Trust. We support people to better understand their long term condition and to learn new skills to live well with pain,” said Helen Burke, clinical nurse specialist with the Herefordshire pain self-management team.

The refurbished building now has 11 clinic rooms, four offices, a reception and staff rest area. And staff at the building can now get to work in a more sustainable way with new secure bicycle rack at the back of the building.

The Trust is considering how it can further develop Sarum House as a community hub for clinics.