There is to be a £34.2 million of investment in new healthcare facilities in North Nottinghamshire. The four North Nottinghamshire Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have signed a public/private sector partnership agreement with Partnerships for Health (jointly owned by the Department of Health and Partnerships UK) and Excell Care Ltd to deliver 21st century primary health and social care facilities in the area. This agreement will be delivered under an initiative called the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT). Seven schemes are included in this initiative including the new £10.5 million Retford Primary Care Centre

A number of enabling works are currently in progress around the site at Retford Hospital to build the new Primary Care Centre. Mr Patrick Mercer OBE MP officially launched the start of the new project on Friday 12th May.

The new Primary Care Centre will enable three local GP Practices to be co-located on the Retford Hospital site. The building will also accommodate a wide range of community health services. It is expected that the scheme will be completed by December 2007.

Louise Newcombe Bassetlaw PCT’s Chief Executive, said: "This is good news for local people, this is the greatest level of investment which has ever taken place in primary care in North Nottinghamshire and is an excellent opportunity to ensure that patients are treated in purpose built premises and that staff have facilities which they are proud to work in”.

Richard Penney, Head of Estates & Facilities and Project lead at Bassetlaw PCT said ”This is the first major step in creating “one stop” healthcare facilities for the local population. The Retford site will see new and improved facilities for local GP’s as well as Physiotherapy and Occupational therapies within an Intermediate Care Unit. Additional facilities for a whole range of Primary Care and Mental Health services will be provided including an on site pharmacy.”

Work has also already started on the Harworth Primary Health Care Centre located on Scrooby Road in Harworth. The project will cost approximately £5.2 million, which represents the single largest investment in Primary Healthcare in the Harworth/Bircotes locality.