20 January 2010
GPs, patients and NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent representatives gathered today to mark the official opening of Aylesham Health Centre, Kent's newest primary and social care centre.
Gwyn Prosser MP led the ceremony by unveiling a plaque and dedicating the building to Councillor Helen Bartolo, a district councillor for Dover and chair of Aylesham Parish Council, who has been a key figure since the project’s inception.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gyn said: "Today is special for local people who have been campaigning for a new health centre for years.
"The Aylesham Health Centre is the sort of facility that the people of Aylesham want, offering a gathering of services which were disparately spread but are now easily accessible."
In line with NHS policy of providing world class healthcare services that are available to all, the Aylesham Centre provides first class services from a convenient location to up to 6,000 residents in Aylesham and other local villages.
The £4m Centre provides 1700 sq m of purpose built healthcare space and was developed on behalf of NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent by Assura, one of the UK’s leading healthcare providers.
The Centre accommodates the Aylesham Medical Practice alongside a wide range of services, including dentistry, podiatry, respiratory clinics and speech and language therapy. A pharmacy also operates on the site and it is hoped that Dover District Council will soon have a small Gateway service in the building, allowing users to access council news and information.
The variety of services on offer are the result of extensive local consultation that took place with numerous community groups and residents at each stage of the scheme.
As the cornerstone of a wider residential-led local regeneration scheme, the building also provides twelve affordable flats for local people.
Commenting on the official opening, Assura development manager Simon Gould said: "We are delighted that this fantastic new health centre has now welcomed its first patients.
"From the very outset, we have worked with NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent and local people to ensure that this health centre closely matches what local people deserve – first class healthcare. We are confident that the Aylesham Health Centre will quickly become a focal point for the local community."
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent’s head of primary and community care commissioning Bill Millar said: "This is a really exciting opportunity and is the latest step in an ongoing programme to expand and improve local access to GPs, nurses and healthcare professionals and the services they provide to meet the needs of the local community."
ENDS
Press enquiries regarding Assura Group to:
Russell Elliott, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3833
Louise Bathersby, Assura Group.
Tel: 020 7107 3830
