PATIENT power has seen health bosses replace plans for a new £7million health centre on the edge of Clitheroe with a £1million facelift for the existing town centre facility.

Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust (PCT) this week announced plans to upgrade the 30-year-old Clitheroe Health Centre in Railway View Road.

The proposed refit will include more consulting rooms and the installation of a lift for patients using upstairs consulting rooms.

Currently used by GP practices Castle Medical Group and Pendleside Medical Practice, the building was opened in 1975 and heralded a new era for the town with community and personal health services provided under one roof.

The scheme replaces an earlier project for a new health centre to be built on land next to Clitheroe Community Hospital, in Chatburn Road.

A total of £65million had been secured under the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) funding project for six health centres across East Lancashire.

The Chatburn Road site was the preferred venue of health professionals, but consultation with patients revealed they wanted health services under one roof and in the town centre.

David Foster of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley public patient involvement forum said patients welcomed the move.

He said: "People in Clitheroe feel much more comfortable with the refurbishment of the town centre practices than they would with a move to a new place out of town."

Work is due to start in three or four month's time and trust bosses have assured patients that the two practices will remain open during the work.