Over 130,00 additional GP appointments a year will be made available across the NHS LIFT estate through NHS England’s Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (UMF) Programme.
It is widely recognised that the primary care estate is in urgent need of improvements, with many General Practice (GP) facilities operating from outdated and unfit for purpose facilities, some predating the formation of the NHS itself.
The multi-year UMF programme will prioritise enhancements to GP facilities as part of the Government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future. Wider ambitions includes the shift of services into the community, and the development of a Neighbourhood Health Service with an emphasis on utilising existing NHS estate to support this delivery.
As part of the national UMF Programme, a total investment of £102m for 2025/26 will focus on small scale refurbishments and reconfigurations across existing surgery premises to increase clinical capacity.
Across Community Health Partnerships (CHP) NHS LIFT estate, 16 schemes funded by the programme, are currently progressing for 2025/26, representing a total investment of £1.147m. These involve minor modifications and reconfigurations of space, including converting non‑clinical rooms into clinical areas to expand GP provision across LIFT buildings.
Of the 16 schemes, three have so far been successfully completed. At Kingswood Health Centre, the Orchard Centre, both in Hull for the Haxby Group and for the Radcliffe Medical Practice in Greater Manchester, the conversion of administrative rooms into clinical space has strengthened service capacity and improved workflow across clinical teams.
Providing additional GP appointments within the LIFT estate directly supports the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan and vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service, enabling patients to access essential care closer to home. This enhanced local access will also relieve pressure on acute hospitals and help reduce avoidable A&E attendances.
Flexibility of the NHS LIFT estate
These rapid modifications demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of the NHS LIFT estate in responding to the changing needs of the local health system. By working closely with NHS and private-sector partners, the estate continues to support the delivery of additional patient appointments and improve access to GP and nurse services to meet rising demands.
This flexibility extends beyond GP provision. A recent variation at Hodge Hill Primary Care Centre, Midlands, enabled three services, including Healthcare for Older People, Parkinson’s Multi-Disciplinary Clinic and an infusion suite, to relocate from the local acute hospital into the facility within just three months. Minor room adjustments ensured existing services remained uninterrupted, and the transferred services were introduced with minimal disruption for patients and staff.
Our continued commitment
We will continue to work closely with GPs, system partners, and service providers to deliver improvements to expand access to high‑quality care.
By maximising existing LIFT estate, investing in clinical spaces within local communities will enable the shift of services closer to home. We remain committed to supporting neighbourhood-level healthcare and ensuring patients can access the right care, in the right place, when they need it the most.
The UMF Programme provides a much needed boost to local GP practices and the communities they support. By investing in flexible clinical spaces across the LIFT estate, GP provisions can deliver more services from high quality, purpose built environments within local neighbourhoods. These improvements will enable practices to see more patients and ultimately improve health outcomes. We’re proud to work alongside our NHS partners to ensure these enhancements make a real difference for patients who rely on timely, accessible primary care.
