Magdalen Medical Practice in NR3 applies for extension

Magdalen Medical Practice in Lawson Road has submitted the designs to Norwich City Council.

If granted permission, the surgery will be able to transform the former on-site Boots Pharmacy into three additional clinical rooms.

Boots no longer runs the on-site pharmacy, which closed earlier this year (Image: Google) Up to six additional parking spaces will also be built in the car park.

Green Party councillor for the Sewell ward, Alex Catt, has welcomed the news - but warns that the loss of the pharmacy is making it harder for people to access the medication they need.

Cllr Alex Catt (Image: Denise Bradley) He said: "People are struggling to see their GPs face-to-face and it means health issues go untreated and puts even more pressure on struggling hospital and A&E services.

"Meanwhile, the loss of multiple local pharmacies is yet another concern for people having to travel longer to get medication, a particular problem for the elderly.

"New consulting rooms are good, and I'm glad to see that the old pharmacy is being put to good use, but unless it comes with new doctors, it is unlikely to have much of an impact. 

"GP services are at breaking point after years of cuts and it affects nearly everybody."

Magdalen Medical Practice will expand into the former Boots Pharmacy on site (Image: Google) Earlier this year, Magdalen Medical Practice, Lawson Road and Oak Street surgeries - all in the NR3 area of the city - joined forces to create a care alliance.

READ MORE: NR3 GPs join forces in wake of One Norwich Practices collapse

This followed the collapse of One Norwich Practices at the start of 2024.

The partnership, known as the Norwich North Primary Care Network, now sees the three surgeries working together and sharing resources to support their combined 30,000 patients.

When one surgery is unable to provide a certain service, but another is, patients registered with all three have access to the practice which does.