Historic building given new lease of life as GP practice opens its doors

A historic building has been given a new lease of life after being transformed into the new home of a thriving Swansea GP practice.

The city centre Phillips Parade site was built in the early 1800s and was originally home to Swansea General and Eye Hospital.

It went on to become a children’s orthopaedic centre and, more recently, a training centre used by the health board’s resuscitation and manual handling teams.

Now, Brunswick Health Centre, previously based on nearby St Helen’s Road for more than 40 years has relocated to the Phillips Parade site.

Pictured: Brunswick Health Centre staff, including Dr Richard Beynon and Dr Helen Locking (both centre).

Owners and GP partners Dr Helen Locking and Dr Richard Beynon made the decision to invest in the building, as their original premises was leased and needed extensive refurbishment.

“Our previous practice needed to be refurbished, and it was felt that the best option was to find a new location,” Dr Beynon said.

“We needed to find somewhere that was close to the original surgery for patients.

“Luckily the health board was able to sell the Phillips Parade site.”

While extensive work has been undertaken to refurbish the building into a modern practice, the GP partners wanted to ensure the historic building was also respected and protected.

Pictured: A plaque from the Eye Hospital still features in the waiting area.

Dr Beynon added: “Despite being a modern GP practice, we have managed to preserve the character and charm of the old hospital.

"We have also kept certain fittings, for instance, a plaque from the Eye Hospital that is on display in the new waiting area.

“The rooms are bigger and more appropriate for healthcare use. We now have better disabled facilities and a pleasant environment in which to see patients."

The partners worked hard with their contractors Andrew Evans Painting Contractors and LA Alarms to complete the project on time.

Pictured: Dr Locking and Dr Beynon with Sharon Miller, the health board’s Associate Service Group Director for primary and community services.

Dr Locking said: “Everyone involved over the last six months has been excellent and we are extremely grateful to them for all their hard work.

“We are a well-established training practice and have a reputation for providing excellent access and care to our patients. Our new home will ensure we continue with that tradition.”

The manual handling and resuscitation teams have relocated to Ward 8 in Singleton Hospital.

Martin Thomas, strategic manual handling advisor, is part of the team and is also the heritage lead for the health board’s Arts and Heritage in Health Group.

“A new, bigger hospital was built in 1863 and the plans for the building were even sent to Florence Nightingale,” Martin said.

“Her architect looked at them and they came back with one minor change. Florence even contributed £25 towards the building work.

“The hospital was completed in 1878 and in 1899 the Eye Hospital was added.

“We also know that Edith Cavell, a famous nurse during the First World War, applied to work at the hospital on two separate occasions in 1902 and 1910.

“From the late 1960s, the hospital’s use became limited as Singleton Hospital was operational, but it was used as a children’s orthopaedic centre until this relocated to Hafan y Mor in Singleton.”

Pictured: A historic photograph of the site.

Brunswick Health Centre, which sits within City Health Local Cluster Collaborative, has now settled into its new home. The practice’s appointment system and telephone number remain the same.

The new site has parking for more than 30 vehicles and is well connected to local bus routes.

“The move went well with no disruption to services,” Dr Beynon added.

“Patients can expect the same high standard of care but in a more modern and appropriate environment.”