A “desperate” GP practice is seeking permission to expand into a second temporary building so its staff no longer have to work from home.

Plans for a cabin to be built in the grounds of the Diss Health Centre on Mount Street have been submitted to South Norfolk Council. 

The stopgap building will be used to provide extra space for the under-pressure service.

The application comes after the town has seen massive expansion in recent years. 

At the time of the 2011 census the town had 7,572 residents, which had risen to 10,714 in 2021.

READ MORE: Attleborough GP Portakabin expansion plan gets green light

The applicant, Lawns Practice, has described the situation as being to “the disadvantage of the service to the people of Diss”. 

A report to SNC said: “The need for a portacabin is because the existing facilities are too small and there is a requirement for additional space to improve patient services.  

“Diss Health Centre is currently working to full capacity with all spaces being utilised.  

“At present outreach nurses are having to work from home, which is not ideal, and additional clinical services are at present not being facilitated due to lack of clinical rooms.

"The practice (Lawns) therefore, to meet their requirements and to meet the needs expected of them for the clinical services to the surgery and the patients, desperately need additional medical rooms directly and immediately.” 

The proposed cabin will be placed to the side of the existing buildings where there is already a smaller temporary structure, which will be relocated. 

Almost 200 homes are set to be built in the town on land between Shelfanger Road and Heywood Road, which could further increase pressure on the existing facilities at the practice.  

The application will be decided in due course.