St Peter’s Health Centre celebrates 20 years at heart of Burnley community

The centre welcomed partners, staff and local representatives on Wednesday to celebrate the milestone and its continued role in providing health and wellbeing services to the community.

The event also marked the completion of a programme of improvements at the centre, including the transformation of its former pharmacy space into a new mental health suite.

The centre’s musculoskeletal (MSK) and physiotherapy services have also been brought together as part of the work.

The new mental health facilities are expected to support up to 200 additional patients each week, allowing a wider range of services to be provided from one location.

The improvements were delivered through a partnership involving Eric Wright Group, One Partnership, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and Community Health Partnerships.

Guests at Wednesday’s event were given a tour of the new facilities and heard from people involved in the development.

The occasion also provided an opportunity to reflect on the impact St Peter’s Health Centre has had since opening 20 years ago.

It coincided with the 25th anniversary of the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme, which has brought together public and private sector organisations to develop healthcare facilities across England.

Lesley McGregor, managing director of Eric Wright Partnerships, said the new facilities demonstrated how the centre was continuing to develop to meet the needs of local people.

She said: “Twenty years is a significant achievement, and the opening of these new facilities demonstrates how the centre continues to evolve to meet the needs of the people it serves.

“The improvements will help provide greater access to services, create a better experience for patients and support healthcare teams in delivering high-quality care.”

Reece Roberts, head of operations at Eric Wright Facilities Management, said the anniversary had been particularly significant for him as a “proud Burnley lad”.

He said: “Having watched the building transform from a car park into the thriving community hub it is today, and having worked on the site for the past 20 years, I’ve seen first-hand the difference it has made to local people.

“This milestone is not just about the building itself, but about the dedicated staff, partners and healthcare professionals whose commitment has helped make St Peter’s a place that our community can be proud of.”

Further events are planned later this year to mark 25 years of the NHS LIFT programme.