Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson and the Mayor of Eastbourne Greg Szanto were amongst those getting a preview of the new Eastbourne Station Health Centre (6 November 2009).
The new centre, which is due to open to the public on Tuesday 17th November, will offer a 'walk in' service to see a GP or nurse from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
The walk in service will be open to everyone, regardless of whether they are registered with the health centre practice, or with another GP surgery, or not at all.
This will mean it can be used by tourists, other visitors to Eastbourne, people who work but do not live in the town, as well as people who are not registered with a GP for whatever reason.
Murray King, Head of Primary Care for NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald, said
"People will be able to register as patients with Eastbourne Station Health Centre, just like any other GP practice.
The difference is that the centre will also be able to look after anyone else who needs to see a GP or nurse, whether they live locally or are simply visiting Eastbourne or working in the town.
It is all about making it easier for people to get the care they need at a time and place convenient to them."
The location for the new health centre was chosen after feedback from a focus group made of up of interested local people.
They felt it was best suited because of its central location, good transport links and accessibility.
South East Health Ltd (SEHL) will be running the centre which has taken the place of a former sports bar on the station concourse.
Ron Owtrimm, Chief Executive of South East Health said:
"We are all really looking forward to the new health centre opening for business.
A great deal of hard work has been put in to make sure everything is ready to go, with all our staff geared up to start registering patients, as well as help anyone who wants to see a GP or nurse at a time and place convenient to them."
South East Health is a not for profit organisation that has grown from the original Seadoc and a number of other GP co-operatives who have provided urgent GP care whilst surgeries are closed
They also deliver a number of other GP and primary care services working in partnership with Primary Care Trusts and Hospital Trusts throughout Kent and Sussex.
SEHL will be working closely with local GPs to ensure that the services offered by the new health centre are properly integrated into the local health care system and operate as effectively and efficiently as possible to deliver the best outcomes for local people.
