Ask The Experts - GP Premises

Published:09/01/2009

Question

I am a GP in Salisbury Wiltshire and saw a reference in GP magazine to you as a premises expert, and that you are happy to answer queries. Please can you give me a reference for where to find guidelines/required specifications for treatment room size in a General Practice setting, where minor operations e.g. incision/excisions take place (but not varicose veins or hernias etc)?

I am aware there are requirements such as the apparent need to have no overflow holes in clinical sinks but can’t find the source of these edicts so any help would be gratefully received.

We are planning some alterations in our surgery- not a new build.

Answer

Thank you for the question, ultimately you need to ensure that the Surveyor/Architect project managing your extension/refurb has knowledge to healthcare premises. I have liaised with my own company’s building surveyors who undertake this sort of work, details are all on the NHS web site and they have advised me of the following direct links to the relevant section of Primary and Social Care Premises - Planning and Design Guidance, Minor Surgery is at the end;

Minor Surgery

alternatively Treatment Room may be more relevant;

Treatment Room

and the detail for the basin for all clinical areas is;

Clinical Washbasin

I trust this provides sufficient.