Leading medical facility looking ahead (9)

I believe the answer is:

frontward

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'ahead' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'leading medical facility looking' is the wordplay.
'leading' becomes 'front'.
'medical facility looking' becomes 'ward' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'front'+'ward'='FRONTWARD'

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I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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