Bourn Hall’s regional clinic manager Sarah Pallett is very excited about the developments. “We are delighted with the success rates in Wickford; over 100 babies have been born so far with another 50 on the way,” she says. “The existing clinic has proved to be very popular with patients, so it seemed a logical step to locate a full-service clinic in the town. The additional space will allow us to offer a wider range of fertility treatments to more people.”
Gemma Kerr and mother of Mathew, one of the first 100 Wickford babies, welcomes the news, she says: “If we had been able to have all of our treatment at Wickford it would have been absolutely brilliant. It would have put us at our ease.
“I was nervous on the day when the embryo was implanted so it would have been nice to have it done in Wickford where we had all of our other appointments and which had become so familiar to us. We had got to know the receptionist, we even sat in the same seats each time when we visited!”
The new purpose-built centre will offer fertility health and well being checks, to quickly identify the cause of infertility, and a range of treatments. If IVF is required the clinic will have its own state-of-the-art embryology laboratory so all treatment can take place on-site.
Sarah Pallet continues: “Wickford is the ideal place for us to offer the full range of fertility services as it easily accessible to people from South Hertfordshire and North London as well as Essex, removing the need to travel into London. We look forward to seeing the building take shape over the coming months.”
Brand new Bourn Hall fertility clinic in Wickford
The new purpose-built centre is to be located on London Road, Wickford and will have capacity for 1000 IVF cycles a year. It is the first time that Bourn Hall has commissioned a new build and it is anticipated that it will form a blueprint for further clinics.
There is a strong Essex team involved in the construction of the new clinic, with project management by The Healthcare Property Company, an innovative developer of healthcare premises based in Maldon, and building work by Southend-on-Sea construction company AW Hardy. Architects BRP have designed the clinic to the highest specifications.
Managing Director of The Healthcare Property Company (HPC), Paul Stacey, said: “I’m delighted that HPC is providing a purpose-built, full service IVF Clinic in Wickford for Bourn Hall. We have worked very closely with an experienced, innovative team of design and construction specialists to develop a high spec facility which meets the exacting requirements of Bourn Hall – from the intricate workings of the clean rooms, to the structural elements designed to reduce vibration.”
Brp architects have also welcomed the opportunity of working alongside Bourn Hall and its development partners The Healthcare Property Company Limited and comment: “The site on London Road, Wickford was earmarked as a natural location for expansion of Bourn Hall’s services, and although the chosen site has not been without it’s challenges, the finished building promises to be rewarding both architecturally and for all those who will use it.
“As a collaborative project between Bourn Hall Clinic and The Healthcare Property Company Limited, the ‘breaking of ground’ marks a milestone moment for the project as well signifying the efforts and hard work by everyone involved with the project up to this stage.”
“We welcome the appointment of AW Hardy & Co of Southend on Sea, as the Main Building Contractor and we now look forward to working closely with them during the construction phase.”
The new facility will directly benefit patients like Gemma, who not only has an ‘absolutely amazing’ little boy but also her fibroids, a possible reason for her infertility, have improved. She now has regular periods, and says that she may now have a better chance of falling pregnant without needing further fertility treatment.
“My body seems to have re-set itself,” she laughs. “So it is possible that I may fall pregnant naturally in the future. If not, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to Bourn Hall.”
