A new state-of-the-art X-ray facility has opened at Accrington Acorn Primary Care Centre in East Lancashire as part of a wider programme of improvement works across the building.
Funded by Community Health Partnerships (CHP), the £2m investment will deliver a range of enhancements designed to support more efficient service delivery and improve patient outcomes across East Lancashire.
Other adaptations within the building are also progressing well. The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which was relocated from Accrington Victoria Hospital in December 2024 within just two weeks, is being reconfigured to create a more efficient and effective clinical environment. The redesigned space will better meet the needs of the teams working there, supporting improved workflows and enhancing patient care.
These changes will include additional X-ray rooms, a new reception area as well as the relocation of the existing GP practice into a more patient friendly, accessible space within the Accrington Acorn Primary Care Centre.
The new x-ray provision will provide greater flexibility for patients to receive care closer to home reducing the need to visit the local acute hospital for diagnostics. The first X-ray room opened in mid-July, with the second room opening to patients in Autumn 2026. Operated by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), the first X-ray room is expected to deliver an average of 100 scans daily, with services running Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 8pm.
CHP is partnering with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Eric Wright Partnerships, and One Partnership (LIFTCo) to deliver the project.
The NHS LIFT estate continues to play a valuable role in supporting the Government’s ambitions for health and care transformation. Through repurposing existing estate, it enables the rapid delivery of modern, fit-for-purpose healthcare environments in a cost-effective way. This not only strengthens access to local services but also supports the development of a Neighbourhood Health Service, bringing care closer to communities and improving the experience for many patients and staff.
It’s fantastic to see this project continuing to take shape and improvements for patients starting to be delivered. The new X-ray facility is a great example of how investment in existing NHS LIFT infrastructure can create modern, flexible environments that meet the evolving needs of local communities. It is exciting to see the project progressing so positively, with further improvements still to come as part of the wider redevelopment programme.
We are pleased to be playing a key role in shaping the future of Neighbourhood Health Centres and delivering real benefits for the local community. Working collaboratively with CHP, the ICB and our delivery partners, we’ve been able to transform space within Accrington Acorn into a high-quality clinical environment that supports community-based diagnostic services. This reworked space demonstrates how existing NHS LIFT facilities can be adapted creatively to meet the changing needs of those in the area.
The new X-ray facility at the Acorn Primary Healthcare Centre is a significant step forward in improving access to diagnostic services for our patients. By providing modern facilities closer to home, we can offer a better experience for patients while supporting faster diagnosis and treatment.
This is a great example of how working collaboratively across the system can deliver transformative outcomes for our communities. Thanks to the investment in and repurposing of this building, funded by Community Health Partnerships (CHP), patients in Accrington can now access a wider range of services closer to home, including the new X-ray suite, which will support more efficient diagnosis and more effective treatment pathways. The ICB is delighted with the progress being made on this project and would like to thank all partners involved for their commitment and collaboration. We look forward to seeing the project completed and all services fully operational, delivering improved healthcare facilities and better outcomes for local residents.
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