BUILDING work on a £1.8 million state-of-the-art health centre will begin in Sedbergh early next year.

The surgery will bring a wealth of new facilites and services to the Dales town including a suite of consulting rooms, treatment rooms and a dispensary.

A dedicated space to provide medical services to Sedbergh School and a training and research suite will also be included.

The centre will be built on the site of the town’s former auction mart on Station Road. It will provide a new home for the existing Sedbergh Medical Practice on Loftus Hill, which has become old and cramped as the practice has grown to accommodate more patients.

“I am delighted that we are now able to move ahead with this exciting development which will help us provide a better service for our patients,” said Dr William Lumb, of the Sedbergh Medical Practice.

Dr Hugh Reeve, NHS Cumbria’s lead GP for South Lakeland, said: “This is a big investment in health services for Sedbergh. A new, purpose-built health centre for patients will help GPs to deliver modern and effective care, closer to home.”

Building work is scheduled to start early next year and will take around twelve months to complete.

The practice has worked closely with NHS Cumbria's development partner, eLIFT Cumbria, who have assisted the scheme.