Newton Drive health centre to receive upgrade as part of Labour’s £102 million investment programme

One of the biggest complaints I hear on the doorstep in Blackpool South is about access to GPs. Too many people are left ringing at 8am, waiting on hold, only to be told there are no appointments available. But what’s often overlooked is why this keeps happening, it’s not just about staffing – it’s about the buildings themselves.

Across the country, hundreds of GP surgeries are outdated, cramped, and simply not fit to meet demand. Even where there are enough doctors, they’re often stuck working in spaces too small to take on more patients.

That is why I am happy to announce that Blackpool South is going to benefit from the government's plans to upgrade over 1000 GP surgeries across the country.

Among them, Newton Drive Health Centre is getting a much-needed upgrade.These upgrades will mean more consultation rooms, better facilities, and more space for GPs to see patients. It’s a practical fix that is going to make a real difference.

People don’t want empty promises, they want to be seen, heard and treated. That’s exactly what this delivers and its only possible because the Government has made a necessary decision to prioritise the NHS in the Budget – investing £102 million into this project alone and £26 billion into the NHS.

This is the biggest investment the NHS has had in five years and patients nationwide will benefit from over 8.3 million more appointments each year.

Transforming these buildings is part of Labour’s wider Plan for Change to fix the NHS. We’re shifting care out of overstretched hospitals and into local communities, making it easier for people to get the help they need earlier and closer to home. These upgrades are one piece of a bigger plan to restore the NHS as something we can all rely on.

For people in Blackpool South, it will mean shorter waits, easier access, and more dignity in care, with the first upgrades expected to begin in summer 2025.

I’ll keep pushing to make sure Blackpool South gets its fair share of investment and attention, and I’ll keep standing up for everyone here who deserves an NHS that works, not just in principle, but in practice.

Let’s keep building a better, healthier Blackpool together.