Sittingbourne Hospital Unit Sees £3.4m GP Surgery Conversion

A £3.4 million project is transforming an under-used wing of Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital into a modern GP surgery for thousands of residents. The work, which began in March, is converting the ground floor of the Frank Lloyd Unit into 13 consulting and examining rooms, four treatment rooms, 20 assessment rooms and two clinical rooms, along with reception, staff and office space, according to NHS Property Services.

The Chestnuts Surgery will relocate from its East Street premises into the finished facility, a move that Practice Manager Adrian Young said offers an opportunity to expand the team and make more services available. He highlighted that the new site will provide disabled access and fit-for-purpose accommodation. Andrew Strange, Estate Strategy Lead at NHS Property Services, described the scheme as an important step in boosting local primary care and showing how NHS teams can collaborate to improve patient care.

The Frank Lloyd Unit had stood largely empty since its previous life as a dementia centre ended with closure in 2020. Swale Borough Council granted planning permission for the change of use in December 2025, and the funding package combines NHS capital investment with Section 106 healthcare contributions from nearby developments. Upstairs, the first floor remains with Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust, continuing community mental health services and enabling different branches of care to operate under one roof.

Dr Ash Peshen, Deputy Medical Director of Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, noted that Swale is identified as a priority area for extra GP capacity under the region’s primary care strategy. The board is also reviewing on-site parking, where 133 existing bays serve visitors, and considering sustainable travel options to support access once the surgery opens.