Catterick's mega med centre marks one year until it opens its doors to personnel

A joint Defence-NHS healthcare facility is set to open in summer 2026, providing integrated medical services to both Catterick's military community and the surrounding civilian population.

Costing £110m, the Catterick Integrated Care Centre is being described as the first of its kind - a purpose-built hub that will treat up to 1,000 patients a day.

Around 75% of those are expected to be service personnel and their families, with the remaining 25% from the local community, including a significant number of veterans.

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To mark the "one year out" milestone, Forces News was given rare behind-the-scenes access to the construction site where the build is entering its final phase.

While comparable in scale to a small hospital, the site won't officially be classed as one.

Instead, it's described as a large, med centre-style facility providing a wide range of services. It will be staffed by both defence medical personnel and NHS professionals, working side by side.

"When a young soldier walks in, I think they will get a warm feeling that their care has been 100% invested in,” said Lieutenant Colonel Tariq Ahmad, Regional Clinical Director for Defence Primary Healthcare (North).

"It's a purpose-built facility that's here to deliver healthcare services for the MOD in Catterick Garrison.

"But also we're bringing in our NHS colleagues in primary care, mental health services and some secondary care services, to have an integrated centre where those teams will work together to give 21st century care."

The MOD is funding 75% of the project's cost, reflecting the expected share of military patients. Officials say the facility is a model for how the NHS and Defence can collaborate in future.

Catterick Garrison is home to more than 14,000 military personnel, many of whom have families living nearby.

At present, those needing treatment often travel long distances for care. The new facility is expected to bring a host of services under one roof, improving access, efficiency and outcomes.

Michelle Hagger, from NHS Humber and North Yorkshire, said planning for the centre began in 2015 and was now "inching ever closer to reality".

Construction firm Tilbury Douglas said it was on track to hand over the building to the MOD and NHS next spring, with the first patients expected to receive treatment in summer 2026.