THE partners at a GP surgery in Taunton wants to increase the size of the premises to cope with increased demand from a growing patient list.

Lyngford Park Surgery has applied for planning permission to increase the number of consulting rooms from six to nine and to add a third treatment room.

The proposal submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council also outlines plans for additional office space and disabled access to the first floor, including putting in a lift.

The work would include converting the loft space and elongation of the building in both directions.

There would also be a new access and simplified car parking,with an extra two spaces at the premises in Fletcher Close.

A document with the application says: "Like many other NHS institutions, the surgery is at capacity and requires expansion in both space and employees to cope with demand.

"The numbers using the surgery are increasing and more consulting and treatment rooms are required to cater to the growing patient numbers.

"Similarly more support staff are required to deal with the associated larger volume of administrative work.

"This proposal seeks to enlarge both administrative areas and clinical floor space to address these shortfalls."

Construction work of the alterations would be phased to enable the surgery to remain open throughout the building work.

The application document adds: "Some features of the existing surgery building do not work well, notably the lack of a designated staff area, too few storage areas and inconvenient floor layouts generally.

"Some layout changes are proposed and an increase in both storage and staff areas have been incorporated, along with the essential additional clinical and administrative space."

In conclusion, the document says: "The proposals will serve the local community in a vital health capacity, as well as providing additional employment opportunities in a sustainable location.

"This is a timely application with the recent outbreak of Covid 19 serving to reinforce the necessity for adequate health care facilities, and we believe this proposal will be to the benefit of all those in the area."