Seven new clinical rooms have been officially opened at Leighton Buzzard Health Centre, following a ceremony attended by the health secretary.

Also in attendance were Jackie Ducker, NHSPS’ Chief Customer Officer; Felicity Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board; and Alex Mayer, MP for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.

Before cutting the ribbon, health secretary Wes Streeting had a tour of the building and met local clinicians and patient representatives. 

The upgrade was funded by the Department of Heatlh and Social Care and delivered by NHS Property Services in partnership with Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB.

The extra space will increase capacity by converting vacant space and improving the layout of existing clinical rooms. The changes are expected to enable NHS patients to access around 56,000 additional appointments each year.

Streeting said: “This investment will deliver 56,000 more appointments for local patients every year, cutting waiting times. It is part of this government’s Plan for Change to shift care out of hospital and into the community, treating people closer to home. 

“On top of the 1,700 new GPs we’ve recruited to the frontline, the extra £1 billion we’ve invested in GPs, and the reforms to help end the 8am scramble and bring 
back the family doctor, this expansion is part of our agenda to fix the front door to the NHS. 

“It will take time to turn the NHS around, but the investment and reforms this government is making is putting the NHS on the road to recovery.” 

Jackie Ducker, chief customer officer at NHSPS, added: “This project reflects NHSPS’ commitment to creating healthcare spaces that are accessible, fit for the future and meet the needs of local communities. By transforming underused estate into vibrant clinical environments like this one, we’re helping deliver more personalised, preventative and high-quality care to the patients who are treated here. We’re proud to have worked in close partnership with the ICB on this development and we’re delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to see the impact first-hand.”