Photo: Minister of state for health, John Hutton, on the Stapleford construction site

The minister of state for health, John Hutton, will officially launch the start of construction of an £11m modern one-stop centre for health and social care in the heart of Stapleford on Thursday 12 August.

The new building, located on Church Street, is expected to open in early 2006, and will provide the local community with improved access to a greater range of health and social care services and community facilities under one roof including:

• Two GP practices (Dr Earwicker & Partners and Dr Jones & Partners)
• Minor injuries walk-in clinic which will be open seven days a week from early morning to late evening
• Outpatient clinics for adults and children
• Pharmacy
• Social services
• Mental health departments
• Office space for community primary health care and social services teams
• Other community facilities

It is one of five sites in Greater Nottingham to be developed over the next 18 months by Greater Nottingham LIFTCo (Local Improvement Finance Trust) - a 25 year public private sector partnership (PPP) agreement between the four Greater Nottingham primary care trusts - Broxtowe & Hucknall PCT, Gedling PCT, Nottingham City PCT and Rushcliffe PCT - Nottingham City Council, Partnerships for Health (an agency of the Department of Health), and ExcellCare Ltd. These shareholders will deliver 21st century primary health and social care facilities throughout Greater Nottingham, in the areas that need them most. The government-led initiative is part of a wider strategic approach also involving Nottinghamshire County Council, Broxtowe Borough Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council locally.

Two other sites currently being developed as part of the first tranche of the Greater Nottingham LIFT programme are Carlton (costing £7.5m to construct) and Clifton (costing £8.8m to construct). A further two sites in Hyson Green (Mary Potter) and Keyworth are due to be finalised later this year.

The City-based schemes, Clifton and Hyson Green, will also provide Nottingham City Council services, reflecting its equal shareholding in Greater Nottingham LIFTCo.

John Hutton, minister for health said: “The launch of the £11m Stapleford LIFT site today and a further £1 billion across 41 other LIFT areas nationwide signals our intent to transform the primary care landscape. The important feature of this one-stop centre for health and social care and Greater Nottingham LIFT’s other premises currently being constructed or planned is that they are not like-for-like replacements. They are much more than that. These are key investment reforms that will help meet the requirements for modern integrated primary care. This is a real achievement for all the partners: ExcellCare, the health trusts, local authorities and Partnerships for Health." Mark Morgan, chief executive of Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust and spokesperson for Greater Nottingham LIFT added: “The Stapleford development marks the start of a sustained building programme of modern, purpose-built health, social care and council premises in Greater Nottingham over the next 25 years. The whole of the first tranche of Greater Nottingham LIFT is a milestone as it is the largest scheme (in value terms) in England to be approved to date.”

Broxtowe & Hucknall chief executive Elizabeth McGuirk added: “The development of the new Stapleford one-stop centre will greatly enhance the health and social care for the people of Stapleford and surrounding area. Involvement of the general public, local users of services, voluntary agency, local councillors and staff has meant that many issues have been raised and addressed. We look forward to having a facility which will be part of the community and provide those services which are needed for the local population.“