A GP surgery in Cwmbran is set for a major expansion in order to provide more facilities for its thousands of patients.

Cwmbran Village Surgery, just off Victoria Street, Old Cwmbran, served 5,000 patients when it was opened 24 years ago.

But it now serves 8,500 and that number is continuing to grow.

The practice currently comprises 10 GP’s, a GP trainee, two nurses and 16 staff. A midwife, counsellors and a pharmacist also have access.

Among the issues that need to be addressed urgently are the building’s inability to both fully comply with Disability Act standards and accommodate childhood health surveillance work, which is once again becoming a service to be provided in primary care.

The key aim of a proposed project for two extensions at the surgery is to provide extra consultation space for nurses and doctors, two new treatment rooms, extra management and office space, and to improve the layout.

A first floor extension above an existing single storey extension near to the car park is proposed, to house four new consultation rooms and a lift for wheelchair access.

A single storey extension is also proposed for the front of the building, to house the main entrance, reception and waiting areas, with consultation, office and treatment spaces to be arranged off these areas.

The site, about half a mile south of the town centre, is owned and run by the practice partners and their management team.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is also involved and will part-fund the project.