Image: Photo impression of the new centre in Keyworth

Work is about to begin on a brand new, £3m primary healthcare centre on Bunny Lane in Keyworth. This one-stop centre for health and social care will be open to its first patients in August 2006.

From 27th June 2005, the main car park in the centre of Keyworth will be closed and work will start on site. Additional spaces are being created at the Village Hall on Elm Avenue and a community bus will help to bring village residents to the local facilities.

A police community support officer will also be on hand to advise people about alternative parking arrangements. Disabled spaces will be available directly outside the existing health centre for patients and residents who need them.

As part of the planning permission given by Rushcliffe Borough Council, a full archaeological dig will take place on the site in the centre of Keyworth in July and building work will start in August 2005. The new centre will be open in August 2006. In the meantime, primary care services will still be provided in the existing building.

Once the new facility is open, a second building phase will commence, to demolish the existing health centre and to create a new car park for patients and local people.

The new centre is more than three times the size of the existing building and will house a GP practice, an outpatient clinic, a mental health team, social services and community health teams, such as district nurses and health visitors. Discussions are still on-going with a local dentist and the police.

Mark Morgan, Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust commented,

“Before embarking on this project, we carried out an enormous amount of consultation with local people. Everyone, particularly members of the Parish Council, has been extremely enthusiastic. People recognise that the existing Health Centre is no longer adequate to meet the needs of Keyworth and so this fantastic new facility will bring together health and social care to show real benefits for patients.

“Local people and businesses are asked to be patient while work is taking place and should feel reassured that everything has been done to minimise disruption in the centre of the village.”