GP practice upgrades to create 82,000 appointments

New funding will allow six GP surgeries in Derbyshire to expand to offer about 82,000 extra appointments per year.

Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said it had secured almost £1.5m from government coffers to carry out upgrades and reconfigurations to existing surgeries.

Work has been carried out at Chatsworth Road Medical Centre in Chesterfield, Matlock and Ashover Practice's Imperial Road site, Lime Grove Medical Centre in Matlock, The Park Surgery in Heanor, and Stubley Medical Centre and The Valleys Medical Centre, both in Dronfield.

Dr Amanda Sullivan, head of the ICB cluster including the city and county, said the "major investment" would help to meet "ever-growing demand".

The NHS Derby and Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire chief executive said: "Our GP teams do an incredible job, so I am delighted to see major investment going into more and better facilities for patients and staff.

"We recognise though that more investment is needed, and will follow.

"Thank you to all our general practice colleagues for delivering a record number of appointments last year and helping to meet the ever-growing demand."

In total, more than 7.27m appointments were provided by Derby and Derbyshire's 107 GP practices in 2025/26.

The expansion funding is part of a 10-year, £6.75bn government plan to "rebuild, renew and modernise" the NHS, including hospital repairs, GP surgery upgrades, technology investment, and using NHS land to create affordable homes for healthcare workers.

It will also see 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres built nationwide, to bring GPs, diagnostic tests, community and other services under one roof.

Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said: "NHS patients - and the brilliant staff who care for them - deserve modern buildings, reliable equipment and services fit for the future.

"Too many NHS buildings are crumbling and outdated."

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