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 Primary Plus 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).

One of the projects included in LIFT is the new Harworth Primary Care Centre to be 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.

This purpose built centre will bring together three GP practices, which presently service the population of Harworth to be co-located. The building will also accommodate dedicated consulting rooms, multi purpose treatment and clinic areas, dental and podiatry suites together with a community nurse staff base and facilities for outreach Acute and mental Health services. There will also be an on site pharmacy services. The development is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007.

A turf cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction is taking place on Friday 10th March 2006 at 10.00am where Mr John Mann MP will cut the first piece of turf.

John Mann MP said:

“I am delighted to be cutting the turf on the site for the new Harworth Primary Care Centre. This level of investment in health in this community is unprecedented and will make a significant difference.”

“We have excellent GPs, nurses and other health professionals in Bassetlaw. Now we are getting excellent, state of the art health centres for them to work in. This is exactly what Harworth is getting; ensuring that the people of Harworth will get excellent healthcare in an excellent health centre.”

St John Deakin, Chair, Bassetlaw PCT said:

"This Centre is good news for local people, and is an excellent opportunity to ensure that patients are treated in a purpose built premise and that staff have facilities which they are proud to work in.”