DETAILED layouts for the expanded Launceston Medical Centre will be going on display later this month — along with an opportunity for patients to ask questions and to make suggestions about what will be provided in the final build.

At the May meeting of the Medical Centre’s patient group (PPG) practice manager Andrew Yardley said: “We now have an opportunity to discuss the plans before building work starts in August.

“We are inviting staff to make their suggestions and ask questions, and we will extend that to all our patients later in the month.”

Mr Yardley enlisted the help of the PPG in making sure that patients will be able to see plans and have an opportunity to make comments.

Chairman of the PPG, Joan Heaton said: “By the end of this month, we will be making the information available to people in the Launceston area so they know in more detail about the plans and to give patients the opportunity to ask questions or put forward ideas.”

Mr Yardley circulated a diagram showing the future layout of the existing and new building to the PPG and said the work would be carried out in four phases.

Phase 1, starting in August, would last about nine months and would consist of the construction of the new build. That work would have zero impact on the practice because the building would be erected independently of the existing building.

Phase 2 would last about three months and would see the linking of the two buildings. During this process, the telephony and main server would be moved to the new building.

Phase 3 would take about three months and during that period, one side of the building (housing doctors’ consulting rooms) will be closed for refurbishment. However, the doctors will be able to use the new build.

Phase 4 In this three-month period, the remaining rooms will be re-furbished and two rooms at the side will be demolished to provide space for the new road linking the front and back car parks and providing the one-way system for vehicles entering and leaving the medical centre.

Mr Yardley said that all questions and suggestions would go to a specially designated website for collation and consideration, and all questions would receive a response.