Financial close for LIFT developments

Work was scheduled to begin on the centres at the end of October this year. They are due to open in June, September, October and December 2008 respectively, adding to the three fully operational health centres already open in Thorne, Sandringham Road and Denaby. Roger Greenwood, chairman of Doncaster PCT, said: “When these new buildings open they will not only help to improve local health and local authority services but will be landmark developments, playing a key part in the regeneration of four important Doncaster communities.”

Working together, Doncaster Primary Care Trust, Doncaster Council and DCS hope to bring about real change by enabling delivery of health and social care services directly into the local communities where they are most needed. At a cost of £17.5 m, this second batch of projects continues the journey, taking Doncaster a step closer to providing a range of innovative community hubs that aim to enhance the health and wellbeing of both patients and staff.

Alan Wright, chair of Doncaster Community Solutions, commented: “With all of our partners, we are very proud of reaching another important milestone. By the end of next year we’ll have a total of seven top-quality centres serving the people of Doncaster and providing the very best facilities and services in health and community care. Increasingly, Doncaster is being seen as a national model for getting these developments right and we are very proud to be playing our part in that.”

All four additional centres have been designed in close consultation with the building users and their advisors to ensure that the very best results are achieved and that the diverse needs of individual communities are available in varied and vibrant surroundings.