£600,000 tonic to aid Clitheroe health centre

1:47pm Friday 29th August 2008

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A HEALTH centre will be expanded after securing a £600,000 windfall from East Lancashire Primary Care Trust.

The cash means that the treatment rooms at Clitheroe Health Centre will have more private facilities for patients.

In all, up to 40,000 treatments are carried out each year for local residents, instead of them having to travel to the big hospital sites in Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington.

A new minor operations room will also be built, along with a medical room and specimen room, with up to seven separate, enclosed treatment rooms, which meet infection control require-ments and create privacy.

There will be a new and enlarged reception and waiting area, with additional staff offices and auxiliary rooms.

The PCT’s chief executive David Peat, who lives in the Ribble Valley, has said: “Our aim is to bring facilities and services fit for the 21st Century into the heart of the Ribble Valley. We are looking to the future.”

Treatment room sister Jane Spurgeon added: “This big investment recognises all the work done in Clitheroe Health Centre.

“We are delighted that it has been agreed and would ask patients to bear with us while the work is completed.

“The ultimate result will make it all worthwhile.”

The scheme for the enh-anced treatment rooms has been authorised by the PCT’s Estates Group. The decision is awaiting final approval by the PCT Board at next month’s board meeting on September 25.