Work commences on three new health centres

Heywood Middleton amp; Rochdale PCT, along with Bolton Primary Care Trust, have established a new LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) Company with the Eric Wright Group and Partnerships for Health (PfH).

This signals the start of a long-term partnership to develop and deliver state of the art healthcare premises across Rochdale and Bolton.

Construction work will start on new health centres at Alkrington in Middelton, Deeplish in Rochdale and Breightmet in Bolton. The first of these to be opened will be at Alkrington and is scheduled for completion by spring 2008. The larger schemes at Deeplish and Breightmet will be completed by early 2009.

In addition to the first three schemes, development work for future schemes has already started, which will result in more than £120m investment in healthcare premises locally.

Trevor Purt, Chief Executive of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust said: “The LIFT centres are an exciting development bringing together health professionals from different agencies, along with social care providers, so that they can all work together to care for each patient.  Each centre will be unique and will provide services specifically designed to meet the needs of the patients it serves. People will also be able to access many procedures previously only available in hospitals.”

The BRAHM LIFT partnership includes the two Primary Care Trusts, Rochdale MBC, Bolton Council, North West Ambulance Service, hospital trusts and mental health trusts. Together with the Eric Wright Group and Partnerships for Health, these will work closely on the future integration of health and social care services in premises that are fit for the 21st century.

Dr. Sue O’Connell, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Health Ltd, said: "I am delighted that BRAHM LIFT has reached financial close, the 43rd LIFT company to be established. LIFT is delivering enormous benefit to local communities across England through committed public private partnerships and this is an excellent example of partnership in action."

Michael Collier, Managing Director, Eric Wright Group said: “We are absolutely delighted that the BRAHM LIFT Company has now been established and look forward to working closely with the Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities in the future”.