Barnard Castle dental surgery begins move to new premises

The first patients are coming to Castle Dental’s new home in the Market Place – but for most people it remains business as usual.

The long-established Barnard Castle surgery has moved its urgent dental access clinic to the old HSBC bank building as phase one of its relocation from Galgate, with the first patients using the new surgery on Wednesday.

Routine appointments will remain at the original surgery for some months to come as the migration takes place in several phases.

“It’s going to be a gradual shift, and we’re expecting to open the reception down here around Christmas time,” said practice manager Sandra Wilson.

Since the move was confirmed in May, there has been a huge amount of work on the old bank.

“The builders have been in since July, but before that we needed to do the plumbing and start on the ventilation system,” Sandra said.

“That took three months, then we started with the plasterboard.”

So far, the only rooms open to the public are the emergency surgery and a temporary reception at the rear of the building, accessed from Queen Street car park.

This was an extension added after the bank closed as part of a never-realised project to convert it into a hotel.

Signs on the front door direct visitors to the entrance, and the route is clearly marked from the car park itself.

The work has had Sandra dividing her time between Market Place and Galgate.

“It’s been a bit stressful managing across two sites but I’m surviving,” she smiled.

“I’ve got a good team up there.

“And we had great help from Mac Building and Joinery, Andy Collings Electrician, our carpenter, Mick, and Teesdale Renewables.”

Some of the original features from the building, which dates from the mid-1800s, will be retained.

“We have the old vault door, which we’re keeping as a feature,” said Sandra.

“And there’s an oak staircase which we also have to keep for conservation reasons.”