NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership have officially reopened Cockenzie Health Centre following the completion of the £4.1m project to extend and fully refurbish the building.

The project began in August 2021 and has seen the health centre almost double in size, with the addition of a 400m2 extension.

The expanded facility, which is home to The Harbours Medical Practice, is hoped to now meet the needs of the growing population in the Cockenzie and Port Seton, Longniddry and Prestonpans with the provision of a wider range of services.

Cockenzie Health Centre now has 15 consulting rooms instead of its previous nine together with two new treatment rooms and two community consulting rooms.

Operators say these new and improved facilities will "enable clinical services to be delivered in an environment which is fit for purpose, bright, fresh and contemporary."

Peter Murray, vice chair of NHS Lothian and chair of East Lothian’s integration joint board, said: “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.”

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 expressed its thanks to all the patients, the whole practice team and local residents for their understanding and cooperation during the construction and refurbishment process.

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.”

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.

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 benefitting 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.”