PATIENTS in Clitheroe will soon be able to undergo minor surgery in the town after a £650,000 redevelopment of the treatment rooms.

The rooms at the town’s health centre, in Railway View Road, will open to patients from June 29.

The work, funded by NHS East Lancashire, has created two theatres for minor surgery, seven private cubicles and a blood test clinic, as well as a reception and waiting rooms and toilets.

Val Carman, who is in charge of the community health service provision arm of NHS East Lancashire, said demand for services such as the treatment rooms had grown in recent years.

“The treatment rooms in Clitheroe now provide around 40,000 treatments each year,” she said.

“The completely revamped treatment rooms will help us to maintain high standards of cleanliness and infection control and provide a more comfortable and confidential environment for patients.

“We are fully aware of how important the range of services are to local patients and wanted to improve them and make them fit for the 21st century. This investment should improve things all round: for patients, GPs and staff alike.”

During the work, treatment has been provided in a fully-equipped mobile unit in the car park.

The £650,000 treatment room upgrade and expansion comes on top of the £1.4 million spent on Clitheroe Health Centre and the planned £12 million to build a new state-of-the-art Clitheroe Community Hospital adjacent to the existing facility in Chatburn Road.