Major NHS Investment Brings Transformation to East Lancashire Health Centres
Three key health centres across East Lancashire are set to undergo significant transformation through a substantial investment programme totalling approximately £8 million. The funding, allocated by the Department of Health and Social Care, will be directed towards comprehensive refurbishment and improvement projects at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre in Blackburn, St Peter's Centre in Burnley, and Acorn Primary Health Care Centre in Accrington. This strategic investment aligns directly with the Government's ambitious 10-year Plan for the NHS, which aims to create health facilities that offer expanded services tailored to meet the evolving needs of local communities.
Barbara Castle Way Health Centre: Creating an Integrated Health Hub
Blackburn with Darwen has been confirmed as part of the first wave of areas included in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. The extensive work at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre, scheduled for completion in Autumn 2026, will involve a complete redesign to optimise previously vacant and underutilised spaces. The Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) Mental Health Acute Therapies team will relocate to a newly-designed ground floor area, while the Talking Therapies team will occupy a purpose-created 'Mental Health Hub' in the former pharmacy space.
Third sector organisations will benefit from bookable space in the reconfigured waiting area, complete with dedicated pods. Local Primary Care (LPC) services will be situated on the first floor, facilitating closer collaboration with mental health and voluntary sector partners. Additional enhancements include:
- A complete redesign of the reception area
- Realignment of first-floor services
- Introduction of on-site X-ray and ultrasound facilities
St Peter's Centre: Comprehensive Redevelopment in Burnley
Similar transformation is underway at St Peter's Centre in Burnley, where underutilised space is being repurposed through a complete building redevelopment. The project, due for completion by the end of March 2026, involves rearranging floors and services to improve connectivity and creating a new reception area. On the ground floor, additional bookable clinical spaces will be established for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), while LSCFT's Talking Therapies services will relocate to a newly redeveloped area.
The Burnley East Network Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) services will consolidate from two separate sites to occupy space on the fourth floor, promoting greater work and service integration. Further enhancements include:
- Creation of administrative and clinical spaces on the seventh and ninth floors
- Significant improvements to IT infrastructure on the ground and fourth floors
- Enhanced service connectivity throughout the building
Acorn Primary Health Care Centre: Expanding Services in Accrington
Following the emergency closure of Accrington Victoria Hospital, the Acorn site presents a valuable opportunity to improve and increase service utilisation. The main entrance and atrium area on the upper ground floor will be reconfigured to accommodate a range of hospital services, enabling greater integration with existing primary care provision. The investment will establish a comprehensive 'Health Hub' featuring:
- Two new X-ray rooms
- A six-bay Minor Injuries Unit
- A triage and plaster room
- New reception and waiting areas
- Additional primary care rooms and clinical spaces
The project has already facilitated the relocation of two additional GP practices into the Acorns building, bringing the total number of practices operating from the site to four. This phased reconfiguration and transfer is expected to be completed within 20 weeks.
Leadership Perspective on the Transformative Projects
Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive of the ICB, expressed strong support for the investment programme: "The central funding we are receiving for these three projects is very welcome, and will be essential in bringing the health centres up to date to meet the ambitions for the NHS set out in the 10-year plan. I was recently shown around the three health centres, and I am confident that this work will allow us to better integrate and closely align services at each site, and by relocating services from elsewhere it will bring significant savings in costs at other sites. We believe that each one of these refurbishments and redesigns will make services more accessible for patients and better meet the needs of our local population."
This substantial investment represents a significant step forward in enhancing healthcare provision across East Lancashire, creating modern, integrated facilities that will serve local communities for years to come.
