£200,000 patch-up for ‘appalling’ Little Lever health centre

The Bolton News | NHS Bolton | 4 November 2009

Little Lever health centres is to get a £200,000 patch-up job.

NHS Bolton chiefs revealed the plans during a discussion about delays over building six new super health centres in the town.

Little Lever, whose centre is getting the facelift, is one of six areas of the borough where plans have been put back, with the scheme due to be completed three years behind schedule. At a meeting of the town’s health overview and scrutiny committee yesterday, it was revealed the £200,000 will give the centre a new roof, which has already been installed, new flooring, improvements to the reception area and pay for repainting work.

But this was labelled a waste of money by Cllr Sean Hornby, who represents Little Lever, and was sitting on the panel. He said: “The state of some of the buildings is really appalling, like Westhoughton and Little Lever.

“If you are not very ill when you go in, you will be by the time you come out.”

NHS Bolton announced in May it would have to review its Building Better Health scheme due to the current economic climate and future financial predictions.

The six remaining centres, which will cost about £40 million, were due to be built between 2011 and 2013.

They are being built by a third party at an average cost of £7 million, but NHS Bolton must pay £1 million a year per centre to rent them.

Avondale and Farnworth will now get their centres a year late in 2012/13 and Great Lever in 2013/14, two years behind schedule.

Little Lever will have to wait until 2014/15 and Horwich and Westhoughton will follow in 2015/16.

Primary care trust bosses defended the work at Little Lever Health Centre and stated their commitment to complete the health centre programme.

Anna Basford, director of primary care provision, said: “The existing condition needs action taken now to improve the working environment and environment for patients.

“The plan is to replace Little Lever health centre by 2014/15.”

The work will be complete by the end of March.