The redevelopment of Thornbury Health Centre has taken a big step forward today, as local MP Luke Hall has confirmed he has secured the first tranche of funding required to get the project moving.
Following a meeting with Health Minister Lord Markham earlier this week, and Luke’s question in the House of Commons to Health Minister Will Quince on Tuesday, the MP has now received written confirmation that BNSSG Integrated Care Board will receive £1.3m.
This represents over 10% of the full amount required to deliver the new Health Centre and will allow the ICB to submit the final details to the Department for Health and Social Care about how they will deliver a redeveloped and upgraded facility.
The process is being sped up by the use of a streamlined 'Short Term Business Case'. Permission has been granted for local health chiefs to submit this form of a Business Case, which can be completed quickly and means the local plan can be rapidly assessed for a quick decision by Ministers at the Health Department.
Luke Hall MP will be liaising with the Minister Lord Markham, who’s portfolio includes the Government’s New Hospital Programme, to ensure the process is completed as quickly as possible.
The news follows a decade long campaign by Luke Hall, and a debate in the House of Commons about Thornbury Health Centre held by the MP in June this year.
Luke said, “This is excellent news. It’s been a long road, but we are a step closer to delivering the redevelopment of Thornbury Heath Centre and this will pave the way for us receiving the full amount we need to upgrade Thornbury Health Centre.”
Health Minister Lord Markham said: "I am delighted that we have been able to award this funding today. Luke has been pushing for this for a long time and constantly making the case about how a developed Thornbury Health Centre will deliver more GP appointments, more outpatient services and more mental health services. I look forward to working with Luke to get the project moving.
