State-of-the-art health care centre moves step closer

12.37.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th Jul 2008

• A SCHEME for a major new health care centre in the borough moved a step closer last night (7 July) when Richmond Council's Cabinet agreed to the sale of Council-owned land for the project.

Proposed for the junction of Percy Road and Hospital Bridge Road in Whitton, the building would be developed under the NHS LIFT programme, a Government initiative to revitalise health care facilities. The aim is to revolutionise primary care and social services in Heathfield by bringing GPs, social services and other primary care together in a state-of-the-art building to provide a truly integrated service for local residents. The Council will now prepare legal agreements and the land sale will be conditional on a specialist primary care developer achieving planning permission and further approvals under the NHS LIFT process. The development of the new centre will require the relocation of Heathfield Library and the Cabinet agreed that there would be a two-stage relocation process. Various sites within Heathfield have been identified as a temporary venue and this would be funded by the proceeds of the land sale. In the long-term, a new permanent library would be built as part of the redevelopment of either Heathfield or Whitton schools.

Cllr Denise Carr, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, said: "This is an exciting project which seeks to dramatically improve health and social care services. The centre will replace the existing outdated premises for GPs with a state-of-the-art facility. Staff from the Council and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) will work side-by-side to boost health and social services for people in this part of the borough, which has been identified as an area of relative disadvantage. The PCT is the Council's key strategic partner and this is an example of our shared vision and determination to improve the quality of life of our residents. It sets a precedent for other joint working to radically improve health and social care services in the borough"