Health centre work starts

UNDER way . . . (from the left to right) David Gratrix (Project Director Community First), Riaz Ahmed, Peter Fenton (chairman of Oldham LIFT), Steve Sutcliffe (Director of Finance at NHS Oldham), Dr John Kelly, Peter Johnson (managing director of Marshall Construction)

HEALTH chiefs have launched a milestone development in Royton.

The area’s new health and well being centre will bring high-quality services to around 20,000 people.

The new centre, which is due to open late next year, will be built between the town hall and library and will replace the current health centre.

It will provide a range of services under one roof including GP practices, a pharmacy, nursing teams and a dental practice, as well as specialised services in audiology, podiatry and minor procedures.

Similar centres have opened in Moorside and Glodwick and the Chadderton project is well under construction.

The 10-storey flagship integrated care centre in the heart of Oldham town centre is due to open in September.

Similar developments are planned for Shaw and Crompton, Werneth, Hathershaw and Fitton Hill, and Saddleworth.

Riaz Ahmad, chairman of NHS Oldham, said: “This will be the latest in a network of developments to make sure people are getting the high-quality health services they deserve, in the place they need it, to help them live longer, healthier and more active lives.
“We want people to have an NHS that they can be proud of.”

John Kelly, a Royton-based GP who will be moving into the new building, is a supporter of NHS Oldham’s Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) — the partnership responsible for delivering many of Oldham’s new healthcare developments.

He said: “Providing a high-quality service for patients is at the heart of everything we do. Modern and high-quality buildings will help clinicians deliver the best possible health services to local people.”

David Gratrix, project director from Community 1st Oldham, the company that is delivering the LIFT scheme, said: “It is exciting to see another development get under way that will see local people have access to top quality health services.”