Last week (23 January) Michelle Scrogham MP visited Alfred Barrow Health Centre in Barrow‑in‑Furness to learn how it will support the Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme, as one of the pioneer sites earmarked to receive £7 million in capital funding for an upgrade.
The Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme aims to create ‘one stop shops’ that meet the needs of the local community supporting the 10-Year Health Plan of bringing care closer to home and moving services out of hospitals and into communities.
It has been confirmed by the Government that Alfred Barrow Health Centre will form part of the first wave of neighbourhood health centre projects delivered through updating existing buildings. Based on current plans, the rebuild scheme at Alfred Barrow will deliver refurbishments of the building which will include a full restack of services to increase productivity and effectiveness, whilst eliminating unused space. This development will include converting storerooms and waiting areas to provide additional clinical rooms and house community service teams.
The MP met with representatives from Community Health Partnerships, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB including CEO, Aaron Cummings, and Team Barrow, a collaborative partnership of local and national government, business, public services, community organisations, and residents.
Jeanette Leach, Regional Director for the North West for Community Health Partnerships, was able to discuss the Neighbourhood Rebuild project at Alfred Barrow Health Centre, and how CHP along with system partners will support the delivery of the changes.
The neighbourhood rebuild funding for Alfred Barrow Health Centre comes at a significant moment for the area. Barrow‑in‑Furness has been identified by the UK Government as a location of strategic national importance, with the town home to the BAE Systems shipyard. Ensuring access to high‑quality, effective health services is essential to support both the existing community and the growing workforce required for future development.
The new capital investment will help modernise the health facility, contribute to the wider Barrow Blueprint for Health and Care estate transformation, and align with the ambitions set out in the 10‑Year Plan for Barrow, developed through the multi‑agency ‘Barrow Rising’ programme.
Barrow is preparing for substantial economic expansion, with a projected 30,000 additional residents expected to relocate to support BAE Systems. During a recent visit, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, described the town as a “blueprint for the positive impact of defence spending across the country,” highlighting the wider opportunities for local growth and job creation linked to BAE’s continued development.
The health centre currently hosts Risedale GP Surgery, Atkinsons Health Centre, Abbey Road Surgery, Podiatry, Talking Therapies, Diabetic Eye Clinic, Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Physiotherapy services. Through the neighbourhood rebuild project, not only will the building become a one-stop-shop for the area, but it will become a shining example of what can be achieved through collaboration across the health system.
Being included into the rebuild programme highlights the important role NHS LIFT facilities continue to play in delivering local healthcare and demonstrates their ability to adapt to evolving population needs.
I am excited by the prospect of what is possible at Alfred Barrow Health Centre working alongside our partners at Team Barrow, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB and LIFTCO partner Carveti. The Neighbourhood Health Rebuild aims to bring services closer to home for those who need it most through existing NHS LIFT estate. It also supports the Governments wider NHS plans. The ambition of the changes is to bring traditional health services into a neighbourhood hub which will allow the local authority and voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors to work more closely together.
This is fantastic news for Barrow, and more specifically for the community and its residents. The town’s health care needs are challenging and complex, with nearly 20% of working aged people unable to work due to ill health. This is a stark figure and one of the reasons why we’ve prioritised working with health care providers to address this and improve the lives of local people. The announcement to refurbish the Alfred Barrow Health Centre will support this, delivering tailored health care services directly to the communities that need it most.”
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