Patrick Mercer, MP will mark the commencement of construction on the new £3.4m Balderton Health Centre by breaking the ground in a JCB at a special ceremony on Friday 31 March. The new Health Centre will provide purpose designed and built accommodation for the Balderton Practice and Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust’s community nursing staff. The Health Centre will include consulting and treatment rooms, facilities for minor surgery, counselling, podiatry and a pharmacy.

Patrick Mercer said “I am delighted to have been invited to break the ground and I am pleased that work is now starting on the new centre which will provide an excellent modern base for the delivery of Primary Care in Balderton, benefiting both patients and staff.”

Opening Planned for April 2007
Construction will take approximately 12 months, with the new Health Centre, situated on Lowfield Lane, Balderton becoming operational in April 2007.

£34.2 million investment in NHS Premises
The new Balderton Health Centre is part of a £34.2 million investment programme in new healthcare premises in North Nottinghamshire. The work is being undertaken by North Notts LIFT Company. The Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) is a government initiative providing investment in primary health care and social care premises, and is a public private partnership comprising, Excell Care (the private sector partner), Partnerships for Health (a joint venture between the Department of Health and Partnerships UK) and the four PCTs in North Nottinghamshire (Newark and Sherwood, Bassetlaw, Ashfield and Mansfield District PCTs).

Laing O’Rourke Undertake Construction
The construction work is being undertaken by Laing O’Rourke. A spokesperson for Laing O’Rourke said, “We are very pleased to be involved in the construction of the new Balderton Health Centre. The centre will provide greatly improved facilities for the local people of Balderton in a ‘one stop shop’ style environment.”

Guests attending the turf cutting ceremony will include representatives from North Nottinghamshire LiftCo, Laing O’Rourke, members of the Patient Group and staff from Balderton Surgery, and Newark and Sherwood PCT.