AN OXFORD medical centre for the homeless has saved £1,000 on improvements thanks to a charitable gesture by a former nurse.

The Luther Street Medical Centre, a specialist GP surgery, has carried out the work on its waiting area after feedback from its award-winning patient participation group.

The groups of patients from GP practices meet regularly and discuss what changes they would like at their surgery – with feedback going straight to practice staff.

New upholstered seating – long a request of the patient group – has been installed with the help of Stuart Bottomley.

The 54-year-old worked at the medical centre until about 16 years ago and is now a partner of Oxford Upholstery, based in Horspath.

He heard about the need for new seating and offered to do it for free.

The father-of-four said: “It has always been a place that is well worth supporting and provides a fantastic service, so it seemed to me a good opportunity to offer my help in a small way.

“Going back there was really nice and I also got to see some former colleagues.”

Substance misuse support worker Richard Lohman said the clinic had secured £1,000 for the upholstery work, but Mr Bottomley’s gesture meant that could now go towards other things.

This included partly helping to fund training, hobbies and interests to help homeless people with complex and enduring health and social conditions, as well as important basics such footwear or household appliances.

Mr Lohman said: “The patients love the new seating.”

New signage was also fitted in the clinic and improved appointment prescription ordering systems were installed.

The Luther Street Medical Centre, which was purpose-built and opened in January 1999, is run by Oxford Homeless Medical Fund (OHMF).

The centre was first established in 1985 from a portacabin in a city centre car park.

Its building was funded by donations from supporters and was expanded in 2005, to provide extra space for clinics, meetings and training.

The day-to-day operations are handled by Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust as part of a partnership agreement.