News

Works have started this month to reconfigure and refurbish the Frank Lloyd Unit at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital. Improvements will provide more general practice capacity and improve access to general practice services in Sittingbourne.

NHS Kent and Medway has been working with NHS Property Services , who own the building, to drive the project forward. Its redevelopment forms part of wider estates planning across Swale to ensure that local NHS buildings are used efficiently and support long-term improvements to accessing healthcare care services.

The project will see the ground floor of the unit converted into modern, fit-for-purpose GP facilities, with Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust continuing to occupy the first floor for community mental health services.

Swale Borough Council granted planning permission for the change of use for the Frank Lloyd Unit in December 2025.

In parallel with the scheme's implementation, we're reviewing on-site parking arrangements and considering how we can make it easier for people to travel to and from the site by other means.

The £3.4 million project is being funded through both NHS capital and Section 106 healthcare contributions from local developments and has been informed by the Kent and Medway Primary Care Strategy, which identifies Swale as one of the areas of greatest need.

Once complete, The Chestnuts Surgery, who engaged with their patients last year around their proposals to move, will relocate from their existing building in East Street, Sittingbourne.

Dr Ash Peshen, Deputy Medical Director of Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board said: “We are delighted the project is moving forward. This is an important step in improving access to modern, high quality primary care services for the people of Sittingbourne, which is identified as a priority area for Kent and Medway. By creating a fit-for-purpose facility on the Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital site, we are making sure patients can benefit from a more sustainable, resilient GP surgery equipped to meet local demand now and in the future.”

Adrian Young, Practice Manager at The Chestnuts Surgery said: “This move offers an opportunity to expand our team and make more services available to patients in the Sittingbourne area. We look forward to providing more and better services in fit-for-purpose facilities, including disabled access."

Andrew Strange at NHS Property Services, said: “This £3.4m project is an important step in boosting local primary care services and supporting neighbourhood health. It shows how different NHS teams can work together successfully to make better use of our buildings and create spaces that genuinely improve care for patients. We're glad to be playing our part by helping to deliver it.”