Gateway Centres

1. What is ‘LIFT’?

NHS LIFT involves local NHS and other public services working in partnership with private finance and construction companies to form a joint venture company. The local joint company - Salford is a partner in the MAST LIFT company - then has a long term (25 year) contract to invest in local health and care facilities (Health & Social Care Centres)

2. Why does Salford need new primary care health facilities?

The large majority of patient contacts with the NHS - about 9 out of every 10 - occur in health centres and GP surgeries. Unfortunately many deprived inner city areas, where peoples health is generally poorer, have a higher than acceptable number of below-standard premises.

The condition of these existing premises within Salford is mixed with facilities not always meeting patient expectations, with quality and access often being below an acceptable standard.

NHS LIFT allows the NHS in Salford to invest in new buildings without the need to finance these buildings out of existing funds, which may affect existing services.

3. What have patients and local people had to say?

The idea for Salford's Health & Social Care Centres was first raised in 2002 following a study by The University of Salford. From the very beginning public and patients have been consulted over the design of each centre and which services they think should be provided at each centre.

Back in 2002 a series of public consultations were held in Eccles, Pendleton and Walkden which produced more than 350 completed questionnaires.

Evidence of how public opinion has been effective in changing plans for the centres can be seen. For example, the site of and access to the Pendleton scheme was changed following suggestions from local people at a public consultation.

4. What effect will new buildings have on the local environment?

Salford's Health and Social Care Centres take into account the latest research and evidence for the design of our new centres to be both appealing to visitors, local residents and workers in addition to complementing the surrounding environment. The principle for designing the centres is best summed by Andy Avery of MBLC, architects for Swinton and Walkden centres: "The design approach for Salford's Health and Social Care centres is based on the principle that good design influences the quality of people's lives. We are determined that our designs should always make a positive contribution to the people who use the centres, to the wider environment and through this will see benefits to the communities in which we live and work."

5. What about access to car parking and public transport?

Drawing a balance between a peoples need for car parking space while encouraging other forms of transport has been an important part in the planning of our Health & Social Care Centres.

NHS LIFT requires that new health facilities are centrally located to make them accessible to the largest possible number of local people. In Salford, the central location of our centres means that each centre is either directly adjacent to, or just a short distance from, public transport.

However, central locations create a challenge in terms of car parking. In Salford, the three centres have existing car parking facilities and new developments will create an extra 193 new car parking spaces (plus 22 spaces for disabled visitors) without removing a single existing legal parking space.

6. What about people living near the new centres?

New construction developments do affect residents, businesses and schools located close to a construction site. The construction partner for Salford's Health and Social Care Centres is Laing O'Rourke, who are taking positive steps to minimise any disruption, inform local communities during the construction period and undertaking a programme of community involvement in each location.

Salford's Health Investment for Tomorrow