Existing buildings will be rebuilt or refurbished to provide a range of integrated primary care and community services, from surgery to smoking cessation services.
The DoH is also putting £3 million towards building a ‘super surgery’ in Hartlepool, Teesside, to house a GP surgery, walk-in service for minor injuries and illness, as well as maternity and diagnostic services.
The £132 million scheme is part of the government’s drive to shift more minor operations and diagnostics into primary care.
Health minister Ben Bradshaw said: ‘We are not just building like-for-like replacements of existing buildings. We are re-thinking the way the NHS provides care so that patients receive better, more convenient services.’
The funding is part of the £750 million announced in July 2006 that is being made available for PCTs to develop a new wave of community hospitals, health centres and polyclinics.
tom.ireland@haymarket.com
DH community hospitals
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