Green light given for £12.5m health facility

Health care for residents in Castleford will get a boost after Wakefield councillors gave the green light to a multi-million pound investment in a new purpose-built health hub.

Wakefield Council is investing £12.5m in the facility, after Cabinet members approved  funding for the plans.

Two existing GP practices, along with a new practice and council services will open in the building, which should be developed on the site of the car park of an existing health centre, in Welbeck Street.

The hub aims to help ease pressure on local hospitals and other NHS services by allowing residents to receive a wider range of treatments, closer to home.

Leader of Wakefield Council, Councillor Denise Jeffery, said: “I’m happy that this decision means we can move forward to achieving better health care for residents in Castleford.

“We want to support ways to create  better health and lives for our residents and this new hub  is part of our goal to make Castleford a great place to live with access to the best services.”

Jo Webster, accountable officer for Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership, said: “This is a great example of partnership working in Wakefield District and I’m delighted this is now becoming a reality.

“This new health centre, in the heart of Castleford, will provide excellent integrated healthcare services for local people, with better facilities and an improved environment for both those using and working in the building.”

This project is being delivered in a partnership between Wakefield Council, the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), and NHS Property Services.

Most of the council funding will be covered by it leasing the building back to the occupiers.

Construction work on the health hub is expected to start in the summer of 2023 and be completed by early 2025.