A state-of-the-art doctors clinic remains closed without any GPs more than a year after it was built because of ‘contract negotiations’, a Bolton councillor claims.
Work on Little Lever Health Centre, which cost £5 million to build, was completed in December 2021. The 1,206 sqm building features three GP surgeries and 14 consultation rooms alongside a separate library, which opened in February 2022.
But doctor’s have yet to move into the facility and begin treating patients. Independent councillor Sean Hornby said he was ‘annoyed’ with the slow progress after he'd ‘fought like mad’ to secure money for the clinic.
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While some residents are upset with the local council, Sean said he believes the fault lies with local NHS bosses.
He explained: “It’s annoying. Money in any council is very scarce, and we managed to score some money to build this fantastic facility.
“Now, it’s just standing here idle, people are getting fed up about it.
“They think it’s a complete council cock-up. It’s not the council's fault. It’s the health side of it where the problem is.
He added: “It’s just crazy. My GP himself was keen to get into that building.”
Sean, from the local Little Lever & Darcy Lever party, said GPs were meant to move into the clinic within three months of its opening in February 2022.
But he claimed wrangling over doctors' contracts had left the clinic empty after a new NHS health partnership took over the running of local health services in Bolton.
He said: “When the building was finished last year, it was always the intention to let the library move in first.
“It was said at the time when we officially opened, it would take about three months. Nothing has happened for months on end since that.
“The primary care trust, which was responsible for GPs, changed its name. It became a different organisation under a different regime.
“They were not happy with the contracts. Therefore, there were a lot more negotiations started.
“The doctors are keen to get in there themselves, from the old health centre. It’s about 45 years old. It’s like a pre-fab, and it’s not fit for purpose anymore.”
Photos from inside the new clinic show equipment and furniture still covered in protective wrappers. Sean said he had also been disappointed to find that snagging issues had still not been addressed during a recent visit.
He went on: “It’s a brand new state-of-the-art building. I fought like mad for it.
“The last council administration wanted to convert the old Tesco building on that site into a health centre and library.
“I said 'You can’t do it. You can’t make a supermarket into a health centre, it won’t be fit for purpose.'
“It’s the most eco-friendly building, it’s completely solar-powered. We’ve got about 80 solar panels on the roof. It’s a brilliant building.
“But I went there yesterday. It’s simple things - the snagging has not been done from when it was built.
“If you’ve got consultation rooms where the windows face onto the car park areas, they’ve not got obscure glasses in it. Those simple snagging issues were mentioned last year.”
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “We are still working with the NHS to move health services in as soon as possible.
“We can’t comment on the reasons for the delay or anything about GP funding.”
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care said: “We continue to work closely with Bolton Council regarding Little Lever Health Centre and hope to make progress on it soon.”
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.
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