Health centre delayed as costs soar

The health hub would have included three GP practices

Plans to build a multi-million pound NHS health centre have been delayed due to funding pressures.

The Castleford hub was designed to bring three GP practices, a pharmacy and some community health services under one roof.

On Friday, Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership (WDHCP) said the plans were being “reworked” after costs had gone up by more than 50%.

WDHCP director Mel Brown said the cost of the revised project would now “exceed the available investment funding, leaving the council unable to fund the scheme".

She said: “While we are disappointed by the current delay caused by funding challenges – which reflect the broader financial pressures facing both the NHS and local councils – this is not the end of the Castleford Health Hub project.

“We remain fully committed to delivering a modern, integrated healthcare facility for the Castleford community. We are actively exploring alternative funding options to make this vision a reality and are working closely with partners to move the project forward.”

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Wakefield Council agreed to invest £12.5m to fund the project in 2022, replacing the ageing Castleford Health Centre on Welbeck Street.

The project is being delivered by the council and the NHS.

'Difficult decision'

Wakefield Council chief executive Tony Reeves said the council would continue to work with the NHS to find an alternative way forward.

“This is a difficult decision.

"But it’s one we have to take to make sure the council’s finances are sustainable, and that we provide value for money for the local community.

“It’s still important that patients have modern and high-quality services,” he said.

The council expected to recoup its investment by leasing the building to the NHS.

The project was billed as Castleford’s “first major regeneration project”, with demolition of the old centre and construction work on the new hub expected to be completed by early 2025.

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