A GP surgery has been granted planning permission for a new extension which will help keep well patients away from poorly patients.

Probus Surgery had been planning to use the extension to provide a cafe where those accompanying patients for surgery could wait, but the outbreak of coronavirus led them to amend the plans.

The extension will increase the size of the surgery building and increase car parking spaces.

In a design and access statement submitted with the planning application Kwalita Design Solutions explained the design process.

It states: “The project so far – it has been an incredibly interesting design journey that we have been on with the staff at Probus Surgery for this project.

“The initial proposal was to relocate the dispensary into the new extension, create a café so those accompanying patients for surgery had somewhere to wait, to provide permanent office space for those who are currently working from portacabins and to increase parking provision.

“During the design process Covid-19 struck, changing the priorities of the project. The focus now is to keep the ‘well’ and potentially ‘unwell’ patients separate.”

Probus Surgery provides three services: a GP surgery, a dispensary and a surgical centre.

The design statement explains that all three service currently share the same entrance but the new extension will change that.

It adds: “It is proposed that the GP surgery entrance remain unchanged. For the dispensary, it is proposed to be accessible externally by creating a covered area, and for patients to be able to receive their prescriptions without entering the building (this will be dealt with separately to this application).

“This application focuses on a new entrance for the Surgical Centre, meaning that ‘well’ patients attending the centre for minor operations do not come into contact with those who are potentially unwell (or maybe even have Covid-19).”

In addition to a new entrance for the surgical centre the application also includes new permanent offices to replace portable buildings; extra staff facilities including laundry, kitchenette, toilet and shower room; and extra car parking spaces.

Cornwall Council has granted planning permission for the development.