In 1947 there were long established single handed practices in Woolpit, Norton and Walsham-le-Willows. In the 1950s the three doctors worked in partnership, but still used the old premises, each attached to the doctor’s house, and there were branch surgeries in other villages. Woolpit became a two doctor practice in the 1960s.
In 1973 Woolpit Health Centre opened. It was originally built for three doctors, who could now work together as a team, sharing premises with nurses, health visitors, midwives and trainee GPs.
Our thanks to Howard Newman and the Badwell Ash History Society who found this newspaper article about the official opening of the Health Centre in 1974.
The practice continued to grow and the building was extended. The last branch surgery, in Walsham-le-Willows, was closed in 1993.
In 1997 the doctors bought the building, which was falling into disrepair, from the Health Authority. The new owners continued to extend and upgrade the premises, adding a new thermally efficient roof, further consulting rooms, a new wing for the primary health care team, offices and the pharmacy. The reception and waiting areas were refurbished and upgraded in 2013, along with a pharmacy refit.
In 2018 a further building project was undertaken to transform unused space, such as a courtyard to upgrade the nursing facilities, creating a new Urgent Care suite. The project also improved and consolidated the working space for the admin teams behind the scenes.