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Barnsley LIFT

From chip shop to one-stop shop: This surgery was a former fish and chip shop - it has now re-located to Thurnscoe.

They were also part of the first wave of six schemes. They achieved financial close in January 2004, their private sector partner being Community Solutions for Primary Care. They began construction in January 2004 and the buildings opened to patients in November and December 2004.

Their first three schemes, situated in the old colliery areas of Worsbrough, Goldthorpe and Thurnscoe, have helped GPs relocate from old, decrepit and unfit-for-purpose buildings. In planning, the PCT worked in partnership with Barnsley Metroploitan Borough Council. A key feature, for example, of the Worsbrough Centre, is the co-location of health and social care. The two teams of social workers based at Worsbrough now means that, in addition to local authority social workers, GP's, practice nurses, health visitors and district nurses now operate out of the same building - real 'joined-up' health and social care. The condition of the existing primary care estate was poor with some GPs operating out of converted Victorian houses and even a Chip Shop.

To help reduce waiting times for minor surgery, two of the centres, Goldthorpe and Worsbrough have minor surgery suites. NHS LIFT will help deliver a step change in health and social care by providing capacity for procedures, such as minor surgery -normally only available in a traditional hospital environment - to be conducted in a GP environment.

The services available in the new centres (detailed below) differ enormously from the very limited services available in the old surgeries. Not surprising when you consider their cramped accomodation and fitness for purpose.

Thurnscoe Primary Care Centre
Holly Bush Lane, Thurnscoe, Barnsley
Cost: £3 million

This £3 million primary care centre has capacity to accommodate up to 8 GPs. Besides offering traditional primary care services, this development is equipped to carry out blood tests, ultra sound scans and other minor procedures which will mean shorter hospital waiting times.

Other services include:

Construction work on this new LIFT development began in early 2004 and the first patients were seen in December 2004

Goldthorpe Primary Care Centre
Cost: £3.5 million

This centre was developed on the site of the old town hall. Goldthorpe primary care centre accommodates 4 GPs.

Facilities include:

It opened to patients in December 2004

Worsbrough Primary Care Centre
Cost: £3 million

This state of the art development accommodates:

There is a significant local authority presence in this primary care centre.  Two teams of social workers are based at the centre.  This links with the policy of LIFT in co-locating health and social services under one roof.  This is directly in line with the principles outlined in the Green Paper, 'Every Child Matters.'

Dr Prakash Kakoty has practised in Barnsley for over 25-years. He said: "The development of new Barnsley premises is long overdue. These schemes pave the way for state of the art premises for the delivery of primary and community services for the 21st century. GPs and their teams have often been struggling in difficult circumstances. New premises may well encourage more doctors and nurses to come and work in these areas, hence allowing for an extended range of services to be provided close to where patients live."

Tom Sheard, Chairman of Barnsley PCT said 'It was a great privilege to welcome the Minister to Barnsley along with all the representatives from the Department of Health, the PCT, Barnsley Community Solutions, the Council and everyone who works in these fantastic new buildings and had something to do with making it happen. We now have facilities we can be very proud of and, most importantly, they will give people greater access to a wider range of health and social care all under one roof.'

Newcastle and North Tyneside LIFT

The new Walker Health Centre that opened to patients in June 2005

Announced in January 2001, the Newcastle project has been innovative in its partnership with Newcastle City Council. The private sector partner - The Robertson Group - worked closely, not just with the two Primary Care Trusts (Newcastle and North Tyneside) but also with Newcastle City Council who wanted to incorporate housing and benefits advice into the buildings.

The projects are:

Brunton Park Surgery
Capital value: £c. £660,000

A new building that has been constructed on the site of the old health centre in Princes Road. Space for GPs plus a relocation of a Branch Surgery has been provided. Other services:

First patients were seen on 7th March 2005

Shiremoor Health Resource Centre
Capital value: c. £4 million

A new health resource centre. The new building includes space for three GP practices. Other services:

There are plans to extend the range of health care and treatments offered at Shiremoor.

First patients were seen on 3rd May 2005.

Kenton Resource Centre
Capital value: c. £3.9 million

This new resource centre has been built on the site of old clinic in Hillsview Road. The new health facility includes space for re-located GP practices. Other services:

It may also become the operational and administrative base for primary health care services like district nurses and school health advisers throughout the north of Newcastle.

The building opened to patients and local authority customers in September 2005.

Walker Health Centre
Capital value: £3.25 million.

The old health centre in Church Walk has been replaced with a new purpose designed facility on an adjacent site.

The new building includes space for a growing GP practice. Other services: