Construction has started on a new state-of-the-art £4.6 million rehabilitation centre in Ashfield.

The new Ashfield Health Village is being constructed as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with Ashfield Primary Care Trust (PCT).

It is part of £34.2 million of investment in new healthcare facilities for North Nottinghamshire, to be delivered through the newly formed North Nottinghamshire LIFTCo, which is made up of four North Notts PCTs, Primary Plus Ltd and Partnerships for Health.

Building work on the Health Village is being undertaken by developer Laing O’Rourke and will be completed by April 2007. Ashfield PCT Chief Executive Eleri de Gilbert said: "We are delighted to see work now beginning as part of a multi million pound investment in primary care facilities locally - this will allow us to extend the range of services available to people closer to their own homes."

The new facility will be a rehabilitation centre of excellence for adults and will enable people to remain at home but receive modern rehabilitation in a purpose-built health village.

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon, who is also President of the Friends of Ashfield Community Hosptial, was guest of honour at an official turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of building work.

He said: “I am delighted that the extra investment in healthcare is again benefiting the local area. I very much look forward to the Health Village opening as it will provide a great range of modern and convenient services for patients."

The new building will be an extension to the exiting Ashfield Community Hospital in Portland Street in Kirby-in-Ashfield, which is owned by Ashfield PCT and already includes a range of inpatient, outpatient and rehabilitation services provided by PCTs, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust and Notts healthcare Trust.

The new facility will enable inpatients to receive their rehabilitation at the same venue. The service delivered from this site will also complement services at Mansfield Community Hospital, which is owned by Mansfield District PCT.

Ashfield PCT Chairman Steven Pimborough said: “This is an exciting time for the modernisation of primary care in the Ashfield community, and this rehabilitation centre, when built and operational, will provide a range of extra primary care services.”

Services to be provided in the new facility include:

• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• Dietetics
• Speech and language therapy
• Podiatry
• District nursing/community matrons
• Multi-faith Chaplaincy
• Resource centre, which will enable staff, patients and visitors to keep themselves up to date with information available on the Internet and other media mechanisms

Carl Dix, General Manager of the North Nottinghamshire LIFTCo, said: “North Nottinghamshire LIFT is a 25 year partnership between the public and private sector. Ashfield Health Village is one of seven schemes that in turn are just the start of an ongoing programme of development in this area.”

John Cassidy, Chief Executive of Primary Plus Ltd commented: "Thanks to this LIFT initiative, the local community will have access to comprehensive health and social care provided in modern primary care facilities by a highly skilled workforce.”

A spokesperson for Laing O’Rourke said: “Laing O’Rourke is very pleased to be involved in the construction of the new Ashfield Health Village. The centre will be a huge asset to the local residents of Kirkby in Ashfield offering a huge range of facilities in a ‘one-stop-shop’ style environment. We look forward to unveiling the building to the key stakeholders and residents in April 2007.”