Design work on a new primary care health centre in Llanfair Caereinion is now underway, according to Montgomeryshire AM Russell George.

In a letter sent to Mr George, Powys Teaching Health Board has confirmed that "good progress" is being made with the development of a the new centre to serve the patients of the Llanfair Caereinion Medical Centre.

Mr George also says a developer has now been appointed for the scheme, which is due to be completed in 2021.

In her letter Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of PTHB, said that "a rigorous procurement exercise was undertaken in the summer of last year to identify a development partner for the project."

The chosen developer is GPI, a company involved with the development of new primary care premises both elsewhere in Wales and across the UK.

"I welcome the assurances from Powys Teaching Health Board that good progress is being made on the development of a new primary care centre to serve the patients of Llanfair Caereinion," said Mr George.

"After my request for an update on progress, I was pleased to receive news that the developer, GPI, has been working with the health board and the medical practice to secure a suitable site and that the design of the new primary care centre is underway.

"My understanding is that the project remains on target to deliver a new purpose-built primary care centre in Llanfair Caereinon by the middle of 2021.

"This is positive news, and I’m keen to understand site options and hear views from residents as plans develop."

Speaking after the decision of the NHS Future Fit process which designated Shrewsbury as the main emergency site for Shropshire and Mid-Wales last month, Mr George called on more funding to be provided for health services sited in Mid Wales.

"I firmly believe that NHS services should be delivered as close as possible to home and I have previously called on the Welsh Government to allocate additional funding to Powys Teaching Health Board for minor injury units and develop a Community Hospital Development Fund to encourage the innovative use of community hospitals across rural Wales," he said.

"I will also be looking for the Welsh Government to revisit this suggestion following the changes to healthcare across the border in Shropshire. My view is that patients should not travel significant distances for some planned care procedures when this type of elective healthcare can be delivered locally, making community hospitals more sustainable and to ensure that any additional economic, social and psychological burden of travelling further to access planned care or visiting friends and family is alleviated."

A statement from Powys Teaching Health Board said: "A rigorous procurement exercise was undertaken in the summer of last year to identify a development partner for the project. The chosen developer is GPI, a company involved with the development of new primary care premises both elsewhere in Wales and across the UK.

"The developer has been working with the health board and the medical practice to secure a suitable site. One has been identified and negotiations to secure it are currently taking place. In the meantime, the design of the new primary care centre is underway. This, in particular, involves the project’s architects working closely with the GPs and staff from the medical practice.

"Although there remains a great deal to be achieved, the project remains on target to deliver a new purpose-built primary care centre in Llanfair Caereinon by the middle of 2021."