04 August 2008
Health chiefs, doctors and members of the local community gathered recently to lay the first foundations of Western Primary Care Delivery Centre in Southampton.
Chief executive, Brian Skinner, of Southampton City Primary Care Trust led the stone-laying ceremony marking the start of construction work on the new health centre which will greatly benefit the local community.
Speaking at the event, Mr Skinner said: "We are delighted to be able to commemorate the construction of this wonderful new development which started in April of this year.
"Over the next 12 months we will see the site transform into a state-of-the-art, ground breaking facility which will deliver our increasingly modern and efficient health services."
The new facility, which will be sited on the Western Community Hospital site, Southampton, will house an NHS Walk-in Centre, GP services, GPs with special interests, physiotherapy, musculoskeletal clinics and space for advice sessions such as healthy eating and smoking cessation, closer to people’s homes.
The scheme is a result of the recent formation of South West Hampshire LIFT Limited which was created to provide state-of-the-art facilities that will give better access to a greater range of health services with extended opening hours.
South West Hampshire LIFT Limited is owned by Southampton City and Hampshire PCTs, Community Health Partnerships and gbprimarycare, a consortium of companies led by Assura LIFT Holdings, with Geoffrey Osbourne as lead contractor.
The Western Primary Care Delivery Centre is the second new health facility to commence construction following a turf turning ceremony for the new Adult Mental Health Unit earlier in the day, which is also being provided by South West Hampshire LIFT Limited.
David Acklam, commercial and development director of Assura LIFT Holdings, said: "This landmark project has been developed in partnership with Southampton City PCT and is designed to provide a first class environment for primary and community care in the west of Southampton.
"South West Hampshire LIFT Limited is in its infancy, but already it has two projects well under way. Both the Western Primary Care Delivery Centre and the Adult Mental Health unit are a firm foundation from which to start our partnership in and a demonstration of what we can provide to the community."
ENDS
Press enquiries regarding Assura Group to:
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