A GP surgery will be upgraded so hundreds of patients can benefit.

The Handsworth Medical Centre in Highams Park will be able to increase its intake for appointments after building improvements.

Improvements worth £400,000 are being jointly funded by capital money from NHS Property Services and from Section 106 money from Waltham Forest council.

Unused space in the building is being converted to provide the GPs with two new consulting and examination rooms, one new treatment room, a training room and additional medical records storage.

The remainder of the building in Handsworth Avenue will be fully refurbished to ensure it is compliant with all relevant clinical standards.

Work began earlier this month and will be undertaken in phases over the course of the next nine months.

The GPs are continuing working as normal while the renovation works are carried out and we will keep disruption to patients and staff to an absolute minimum.

The Health Visitors have been moved to Silverthorn Medical Centre in Chingford.

MP for Chingford and South Woodford, Mr Iain Duncan Smith, said: “It is fantastic news that the centre has received this money, which will be instrumental to meeting the health needs of the local community.

“It will allow for better use of the available space at the centre, increase capacity for appointments and improve the building for patients.”