Eric Wright completes Great Harwood health centre

25 October 2013 14:57 Simon Donohue Comments (0)

Eric Wright Construction has completed a £3.15m project to create a new health centre in Great Harwood, Lancashire, on behalf of East Lancashire Business Partnership.

Commissioned by NHS Property Services, Great Harwood is the first to complete out of three contracts currently being undertaken by East Lancashire Building Partnership, the local LIFT company established between Community Health Partnership, a company wholly owned by the Department of Health and Eric Wright Group.

The second contract, Colne Health Centre, will be completed at Christmas and the final contract, the reprovision of the community hospital in Clitheroe, is due to handover in the first quarter of 2014.

Great Harwood Health Centre will house the Royle Practice, Great Harwood Medical Centre and Dr Valluri's practice branch. It will also provide Primary Care services such as podiatry, speech and language therapy, treatment room services, multi-use consultation rooms, examination rooms and a pharmacy.

The two-storey health centre is easily accessible and will provide an improved patient experience, in compliance with Government legislation. The existing services at the current health centre will be relocated to the new facility and the old building will be demolished by November 2013 making way for a much larger car parking area.

Andy Pratt, project director for Great Harwood Health Centre, said: "After years of working and delivering care in a building that was designed for much smaller patient numbers, the health centre will provide an improved environment for both staff and the local residents.

"Attractive landscaping and outdoor public space for visitors and passers-by make this facility welcoming and in-keeping with the surroundings and Great Harwood's market-town style."

Christine Winstanley, director of East Lancashire Partnerships and Eric Wright Group, said: "We are proud to continue our long standing relationship with the NHS and I am pleased to say we have developed an excellent partnership with the newly established NHS Property Services, to produce a modern, high quality building."