The project will create three new GP clinical rooms, an administrative office, and a new bookable clinical room for community services run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), reducing the need for patients to travel to the nearest hospital, 13 miles away.
Improvements are expected to support around 44,000 additional appointments per year, helping patients access care closer to home and supporting the growing demand for primary care services in the area.
The new bookable clinical room will also enable key NHS services, including health visitor clinics, specialist community nursing clinics and mental health services to be delivered from The Orchard Centre.
Construction is expected to complete in March 2027. CHP is delivering the project in partnership with Thorne Moor Medical Practice, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Doncaster Estates Partnerships (LIFTCo), and Sewell Advisory.
Dr Jane Fitch, regional director – North East, Community Health Partnerships, said: “This investment will create much-needed additional primary care and community clinical capacity at The Orchard Centre, helping thousands more patients access high-quality care closer to home. By working with our NHS and local estate partners, we are making better use of the NHS LIFT building and creating a flexible healthcare environment that can respond to growing demand both now and in the future.”
Kath Lavery, chair, Doncaster Estates Partnerships, added: “The improvements to the Orchard Centre to expand Thorne Moor Medical Practice means a bigger range of health services can be brought into the local community, helping patients get care closer to home and reducing pressure on local hospitals. By remodelling an existing NHS LIFT building, we can ensure it continues to meet the changing needs of the local population, as demand for primary care appointments continue to grow.”