NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership are delighted to officially reopen Cockenzie Health Centre following the completion of the project to extend and fully refurbish the original building which dates back to 1980.

The project, which began in August 2021 has seen the health centre almost double in size, with the addition of a 400m2 extension. Thanks to this much-needed project and investment, which has been many years in the planning; the expanded facility will meet the needs of the growing population in the Cockenzie, Port Seton, Longniddry and Prestonpans areas and the provision of a wider range of services.

Cockenzie Health Centre now has 15 consulting rooms instead of its previous 9 together with 2 new Treatment Rooms and 2 Community Consulting Rooms. The Health Education and Meeting Rooms are also new facilities along with a new Community Administration Office. These new and improved facilities will enable clinical services to be delivered in an environment which is fit for purpose, bright, fresh and contemporary.

The Health Centre will also be home to a wider range of East Lothian Health and Social Care managed Primary Care services. Community residents will be able to gain access to services provided by midwives, health visitors and community link workers.

In addition, patients will be able to access the nurse-led Community Treatment and Care Service (CTACS) and be allocated appointments to the Care When It Counts (CWIC) team which provides a same-day care service allowing patients to gain access to Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Physician Associates to assess their medical and care needs.

Throughout the construction works, the practice has continued to care for the local community and disruption was kept to a minimum. East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership Project Team would like to express their thanks to all the patients, the whole practice team and local residents for their understanding and cooperation during the construction and refurbishment process.

The project has been delivered by NHS Lothian’s Development Partner, Hub South East, and contractors Morrison Construction, following on from their previous project of the award-winning East Lothian Community Hospital.

Vice Chair of NHS Lothian and Chair of East Lothian’s Integration Joint Board, Peter Murray, commented:  “This project has been a long time in the making, and we are absolutely thrilled to have this facility reopened. The collective team have gone above and beyond with this refurbishment and the facilities that are now available to the local people of Cockenzie, Port Seton, Longniddry and Prestonpans are outstanding.”

Fiona Wilson, chief officer of the East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership, added: “We would like to thank all of the contributors who have made this project possible. It has been an incredible team effort for a wide variety of partnership and networks, without which this project would not have been possible. I would also like to give special thanks to the patient participation group for their valued contribution to the process.

“We very much hope that this facility serves the health, wellbeing and social needs of this community for years to come.”

Roddy Clark, Hub South East’s operations director, said: “It’s fantastic to be invited back to the official opening of the extended Cockenzie Health Centre and to hear first-hand how it is already benefiting patients and the Harbours Medical Practice Team.

“We’re proud to have delivered this enhanced health space with our contractor Morrison Construction, to help meet the needs of the growing population locally. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership on future projects.”