Issued by: NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Property Services and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

The local NHS has invested £1.7million to provide new modern healthcare facilities in the St Luke’s Health Centre ensuring it is fit-for-purpose now and into the future for local residents.

On Monday, 7 September, the doors to the new St Luke’s GP practice, based at Pantile Avenue, Southend, will open for the first time after extensive renovation works to the practice’s new premises. St Luke’s GP practice will be relocating to the new health centre.

NHS Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Property Services have worked together to deliver the programme of works. The work included the reorganisation and renovation of part of the Cumberlege Lodge to provide space for a fully equipped medical practice.

Funding was secured from the NHS England and NHS Improvement Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) to deliver improved health facilities for the residents of St Luke’s ward and create additional space to improve and increase access locally to GP services. The new centre provides an opportunity to deliver more integrated system-wide approach to health and care services in the community and help to relieve pressure from Southend Hospital.

The new building has been designed to accommodate the potential for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council services and voluntary organisations to be co-located in the future.

Tricia D’Orsi, Deputy Accountable Officer for NHS Southend CCG said: “NHS Southend CCG, with its partners across south east Essex, continues to work to make sure local people in St Luke’s and the wider south east Essex, receive safe, high quality care, in fit-for-purpose premises.  We would like to thank the St Luke’s Patient Participation Group (PPG) who have supported us along this journey.”

Cllr Trevor Harp, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council said: “It has been an aim of the council for some time to improve the local health facilities in this area and we are delighted to have worked in partnership to help achieve this and to support the project with the use of this Council-owned asset. We look forward to this new facility opening and serving local people.”

Barry Clark, Principal Construction Manager, NHS Property Services, said: “We are delighted to have been able to deliver these major improvements to this facility and give it a brand-new home in conjunction with Southend Clinical Commissioning Group. We hope that the work will provide a great place to deliver and receive care going forward and look forward to making further improvements to the site next year.”

Lorna Galforg, Virgin Care’s Service Manager at St Luke’s GP practice, said: “The new premises are fantastic and will help us to ensure that we continue to offer high quality services to all our patients. I would like to thank the staff and patients for their continued support through the transition period. Our team is really looking forward to welcoming the people we provide care for. This is a real asset to the local community.”