Following our last communication with you in February, we are now able to give you an update on the progress made in our plans to refurbish the NPC Felton surgery.
In December 2025, we submitted a planning application to Northumberland County Council.
We are pleased to inform you that this application has been approved. You can find more information about the planning application on Northumberland County Council’s website.
Now that we have received planning permission, please be assured that we will give you a further update on the proposed timeline for the refurbishment work within the next few weeks. We appreciate that this is what our patients, colleagues and stakeholders are all keen to know. We also thank you for your patience as this project progresses.
You can view the proposed floor plan for the surgery here.
Just a reminder that we have done a leaflet giving more information about Northumbria Primary Care and the Felton surgery. You can access it here.
Due to a significant rise in construction costs, building a new surgery near Robson Grove was no longer financially viable. As we are responsible for the appropriate use of public funds and ensuring value for money, the decision was made to find a more cost-effective solution while still meeting local healthcare needs.
Northumbria Primary Care (NPC) has purchased the existing Felton surgery building and the adjoining property to ensure primary care services remain in the village. These will be renovated to provide a modern and accessible GP practice. We’ll share further news on our plans in the coming weeks.
Northumbria Primary Care (NPC is managing these changes. Felton and Widdrington surgeries have been part of NPC since August 2023. NPC is a not-for-profit organisation – any surplus money is reinvested into improving patient care.
The planning application was submitted at the end of December 2025. In April 2026, we received confirmation the Northumberland County Council had approved our plans.
We will provide an update to patients on our plans in the coming weeks.
We are very pleased to let you know that we are looking to sign contracts with Meldrum Construction in the next few weeks. Meldrum, who will carry out the work to refurbish our surgery, are local to the North East. They have offices in both Tyneside and Teesside, and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has worked with them on various projects.
Yes. The existing surgery will remain open throughout the renovation process. The dispensary service will continue operating in its current space.
We will update patients if they need to change how they access the building as a result of this work.
Yes, you can see them on the page above.
We will be including additional parking to the rear of the surgery for staff in the pre-application for planning permission. They will have access to the practice by a new footpath. This will reduce congestion at the front of the surgery, creating more available parking for patients.
Emergency vehicles will have access to the building in an emergency, but there are no designated ambulance drop-off spaces at the site. This is due to lack of space.
This land is owned by the parish council and any questions relating to it need to be directed to them.
For more information or to ask questions, please check our GP practice website https://www.northumbriaprimarycare.co.uk. You can email queries to nencicb-nor.widdringtonandfelton@nhs.net.
Yes, the PPG will be regularly updated as plans develop. Their and all patient input is valued.
Updates will be shared through multiple channels, including the practice website, in-practice (noticeboards), social media, village newsletters, drop-in sessions and via the PPG/other key stakeholders. Please be assured that we are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way.
The way you contact your practice will remain unchanged.
We have recently increased GP and some other provision at the surgery and are constantly looking at what additional services can be provided.
The level of services provided depends on the number of registered patients. As the local population grows and if the Felton surgery patient list-size grows, it is hoped that services in Felton can expand, enabling further reinvestment into patient care.
While not all appointments can be guaranteed to take place in Felton, the redevelopment aims to increase capacity and improve facilities, which should make it easier to access more services locally. As above, GP provision has increased. This is dependent and based on the number of patients registered at Felton surgery increasing.
The redevelopment of the surgery will ensure services are retained within Felton village and will improve both patient and staff experience. As promised, we are reviewing services we provide in Felton. GP and some other provision have been increased, and the surgery currently has clinics also run by advanced clinical practitioners, practice nurses, district nurses, health care assistants and mental health and wellbeing coaches.
Felton surgery remains part of NPC Felton and Widdrington practice. Most staff will work across both surgeries. This provides workforce resilience.
Yes, a self-service blood pressure monitoring machine is planned as part of the redevelopment, so patients can check their readings easily and regularly.
Yes, and we welcome feedback in relation to what would support the village/wellbeing of residents.
See below for the response from NPC Felton’s PPG
The PPG are delighted that NPC have made the commitment to providing medical services to our community. The purchase and subsequent refurbishment of Middle Farm shows a huge financial undertaking. In doing so, medical services in our community are guaranteed for the long term.