The South Yorkshire Primary Care Capital Programme is one of the largest and most ambitious primary care estate programmes delivered in England in recent years. Bringing together NHS organisations, local authorities, GP practices and delivery partners, the award-winning programme is transforming healthcare facilities across South Yorkshire to better meet the needs of local communities.

Comprising 11 projects ranging from practice refurbishments and extensions to major new-build health centres, the programme secured £57.4 million of NHS capital funding to modernise primary care infrastructure and support the delivery of care closer to home.

A shared ambition to improve patient care

The award-winning joint Sewell Advisory & NHS South Yorkshire ICB team.

The programme was developed in response to increasing demand and recognition that many GP premises were no longer fit for modern models of care. Several practices faced significant shortages of clinical space, limiting their ability to expand services and meet the needs of growing populations.

Partners shared a common ambition to create modern, accessible healthcare facilities that improve patient experience, increase capacity and support integrated neighbourhood services. The programme aligns closely with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan by supporting the shift from hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital through modern, flexible healthcare environments.

Collaboration at scale

Delivering the programme required unprecedented collaboration across two integrated care boards, four local authorities, 16 GP practices, NHS England, contractors, advisers and local communities. More than 20,000 consultation responses helped shape the developments, ensuring plans reflected local needs and priorities.

Emma Price, Assistant Director, Transformation and Delivery, South Yorkshire ICB, describes the programme as “an exceptional example of collaborative working, delivering strategic investment across the region, strengthening partnerships, improving access to care and enabling integrated service delivery.”

A dedicated programme management office and robust governance structure enabled partners to share expertise, manage risks collectively and overcome complex challenges, including construction inflation and the use of Section 2 funding agreements, which enabled NHS and local authority partners to work together to deliver new primary care facilities.

Delivering benefits for patients and communities

The programme is already making a significant difference. By early 2024, five refurbishment and extension projects had been completed, creating additional clinical space and capacity for more than 5,000 patients. Further schemes provide capacity for around 43,000 additional registered patients and create more space for appointments, community services and multidisciplinary teams

Overall, more than 155,000 patients are expected to benefit from improved facilities and enhanced access to care. New developments are helping bring services closer to home, reducing reliance on hospital-based care and supporting neighbourhood health approaches. The programme is also delivering environmental and financial benefits through more sustainable buildings, lower running costs and reduced maintenance requirements.

Improving the experience of care

The benefits are being felt by patients in practical ways every day. Modern facilities are creating more comfortable, accessible environments and enabling practices to expand the range of services available locally.

At The Scott Practice in Doncaster, larger waiting areas mean patients no longer wait in corridors, while a new state-of-the-art minor operations suite provides a more dignified experience, with an integrated recovery area for patients following procedures. Additional clinical space has also enabled the practice to expand services, including physiotherapy and support from partner organisations.

Rose Fells, Managing Partner at The Scott Practice, said:

“Our increased waiting areas mean patients are no longer having to wait in corridors. Our new state-of-the-art minor op suite provides a better experience for patients.”

At Broom Lane Medical Centre in Rotherham, the redevelopment has created a modern facility that supports better patient care while bringing multidisciplinary teams closer together.

Dr Simon Langmead, GP Managing Director, said:

Dr Simon Langmead

“The result is a brilliant modern facility which has allowed us to deliver better patient care and bring the multidisciplinary team closer to the patient, whilst also providing better working space for our staff team.”

A blueprint for future transformation

As one of the first programmes of its kind, the South Yorkshire Primary Care Capital Programme is already providing valuable learning for other health systems planning large-scale estate transformation. By combining strategic investment, strong partnerships and a commitment to reducing inequalities, it demonstrates how modern GP estates can improve access, support neighbourhood health and create better experiences for patients and staff alike.