Yoker Medical Centre & Riverbank Dental, Glasgow
The new purpose-built facility extends to 530 sqm and provides combined accommodation for:
- A 3no. Consult / Examination room GP Surgery
- A 4no. chair Dental Surgery
Our Clients’ Needs
Dr McCorkindale said “we needed a larger building to suit our clinical care and to provide space for our growing practice”. The previous GP surgery was cramped and below current area standards and offered no room for expansion. “The limited size of the existing building meant that patient confidentiality was often compromised with the reception desk open to the undersized waiting area.” The practice was restricted in its ability to provide the services it wishes to offer. “Previously all our car parking was ‘on-street’ and close to a busy road junction. We were keen to have dedicated off-street parking for our staff and patients; particularly those requiring assistance.”
The Dentist, Andrew Leitch had more pressing needs; his previous premises having been destroyed by fire. “Our introduction to MCS could not have been timelier coming days after our fire. Although I had several options, the opportunity to create new, bespoke premises, suitable for the growth of the practice was extremely attractive for my team, our patients and our trainees.”
Both the GP and Dental practices needed the facilities to be provided within a tight timescale to accommodate existing lease arrangements. The Dentist was occupying temporary facilities following the damage to his original premises.
MCS’s Approach
We were able to find a solution to unlock this project; bridging an affordability gap where others had failed. The chosen site was too large purely for the GP’s requirements so we were delighted to accommodate the Dentist as part of the development.
Listening closely to the GP and Dentist’s requirements we were able to provide bespoke facilities for both healthcare users but within a unified setting. The project was completed within challenging timescales to satisfy their requirements.
We worked closely with the local authority planning department who encouraged us to create a landmark building which it is hoped will act as a potential catalyst for regeneration within this relatively deprived area of Glasgow.
Our Solution
The new facility is designed as an elegant ‘L’ shape, facing towards the main road; one leg accommodating the GP and the other the Dentist. The landscaped area behind the building houses private car parking and provides an important visual amenity for both practices. This area also caters for potential future expansion. The building is accessed through a colonnaded entrance and is characterised by:
- Obvious, secure and barrier free entrances
- Bright and friendly reception areas catering for confidential discussions
- Generous waiting areas with good daylight and views
- Sound proofing for patient confidentiality
- Large consulting rooms and dental surgeries which are functional and flexible
- Excellent training, teaching and staff welfare areas
- A hierarchy of segregated space; public, consultation and private / staff areas
- Cool and calm interiors enhancing the ‘relaxed’ nature of the building
“All previous efforts over an 8 year period to get new premises had failed. I was delighted by the knowledge, experience and ‘can-do’ attitude that MCS brought to the project and am delighted by the outcome. My partner, staff, patients and the public have already adopted the building as a valuable community asset for Yoker.”
Dr Clare McCorkindale,
Senior Partner,
Yoker Medical Centre
“MCS made the process as easy as possible for me at a time when I was faced with a major challenge. Their collaborative approach allowed me to be involved from the outset of the design process and has helped create facilities which contain everything I need to allow the practice to grow and to provide excellent levels of patient care.”
Andrew Leitch,
Senior Partner,
Riverbank Dental
Health Outcomes
Although the new facility has only recently opened, Dr McCorkindale believes that tangible benefits can be seen for both patients and staff:
- The calm environment of the building encourages patients to be more relaxed.
- A greater degree of patient confidentially – starting at reception.
- More space has resulted in removing compromise in terms of facilitating a wide range of clinical and support services. “No more podiatry clinics in the Practice Manager’s Office!”
- Information display in the waiting area is electronic, constantly updated and focused on patients’ seasonal needs.
- Staff have commented on it being a more pleasant place to work.
- Greater productivity among administration staff due to dedicated workspaces.
- The new layout encourages greater staff interaction and dialogue between the GP’s.
- There is dedicated and appropriate space for teaching undergraduate students.
Andrew Leitch has identified a number of significant clinical benefits inherent in the building:
- Optimal arrangement of all 4 surgeries provides the best possible clinical environment in a calming environment.
- The new patient lounge / interview room provides an ideal setting for difficult and confidential patient / dentist discussions.
- Close proximity of the surgeries provides an effective and efficient training and teaching setting.
- The large decontamination room (currently configured as a single room) is suitable for future adaptation and potential segregation.
- The staff are enjoying their new working environment; encouraging a stronger team ethic with inherent patient benefits.
