NHS Property Services has announced the opening of seven new clinical rooms at Leighton Buzzard Health Centre following a ceremony attended by Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
The Secretary of State was welcomed to the site by Jackie Ducker, NHSPS’ Chief Customer Officer; Felicity Cox, CEO of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, and Alex Mayer, MP for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. Before cutting the ribbon, the Minister had a tour of the building, and met local clinicians and patient representatives.
Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, and delivered by NHS Property Services in partnership with Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB, following consultation with local patients, the additional space will increase capacity by converting vacant space and improving the layout of existing clinical rooms.
Five of the rooms – along with a new waiting area, WC, and reception space – have been developed on the first floor, with two more spaces created on the ground floor by reconfiguring the existing layout into fully equipped clinical rooms.
The development is expected to provide 56,000 additional appointments each year, including the recently launched Integrated Same Day Minor Illness Service, operated by the town’s Primary Care Network, which includes care from enhanced nurse practitioners, pharmacists. and paramedics.
Wes Streeting said: “On top of the 1,700 new GPs we’ve recruited to the frontline, the extra £1 billion we’ve invested in GPs, and the reforms to help end the 8 am scramble and bring
back the family doctor, this expansion is part of our agenda to fix the front door to the NHS.
It will take time to turn the NHS around, but the investment and reforms this government is making is putting the NHS on the road to recovery.”
Jackie Ducker at NHSPS, added: “This project reflects NHSPS’ commitment to creating healthcare spaces that are accessible, fit for the future, and meet the needs of local communities. By transforming underused estate into vibrant clinical environments like this one, we’re helping deliver more personalised, preventative, and high-quality care to the patients treated here. We’re proud to have worked in close partnership with the ICB on this development, and delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to see the impact first-hand.”
Pictured. from left to right, are: Dr John Henderson, Bassett Road Surgery, Robin Porter, Chair, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB; Alex Mayer, MP for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard: Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP; Felicity Cox, Jackie Ducker, NHS Property Services, and Dr Christopher Longstaff of Bassett Road Surgery.
