Local people are being urged to come and see inside the new £16 million Station Plaza Health Centre in Hastings, with an open day on Thursday 20th May 2010.
The new building, which is next door to the town’s main train station, has five-floors and has been purpose built to offer a high standard of health care in welcoming and modern surroundings.
It is due to start treating patients on Monday 24th May 2010.
Guided tours of the building will be taking place during the open day on 20th May, allowing visitors to find out about the services which will be on offer.
These include GP care, a Walk-In Centre open from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week, a pharmacy, dental practice and sexual health clinic.
Station Plaza Health Centre is part of an overall effort by NHS Hastings and Rother to give local people as much choice and flexibility as possible when they want to see their GP, or get treatment from other health-care services.
Charles Everett, the Chair of NHS Hastings and Rother, said:
“It is fantastic that Station Plaza Health Centre is ready to open.
Building work began last Spring and I would like to thank everyone involved in completing the project, bang on schedule and within budget, for their tremendous hard work.
The new building will allow local people to get the health-care they need in a modern, state of the art building, and at a time and place more convenient for them.
I would urge everyone to come along on the open day and see how impressive it is for themselves.”
Mike Wood, Chief Executive of NHS Hastings and Rother, added:
“Work to make Station Plaza Health Centre a reality began a number of years ago, so it is great to see that vision made real in concrete and glass.
The new building is a major boost to our efforts to improve the health of local people and enable them to live as healthy lives as possible.
It will make it easier for people to get the care and advice they need by offering a range of services with more convenient opening hours, and all located in one place in the centre of Hastings.”
People can sign up for a tour on the open day on 20th May at the health centre’s main entrance, or by visiting a special stand which will be at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre.
Alternatively, you can book a place in advance by visiting www.hastingsandrother.nhs.uk or calling tel 01273 403550.
Tours will be running from 10am to 2pm.
Factfile: What Station Plaza will offer local people
• Station Plaza Health Centre will make it easier for local people to receive care from GPs by providing accommodation for up to 12 doctors (four more than are currently serving the area).
• With space for more GPs Station Plaza Health Centre will help improve the doctor/patient ratio in the area and so help deliver better care.
• 4 existing practices (Wellington Square (Dr Higginson and Drs Seal and Hughes), Stone Street and Cornwallis Gardens) will be moving into the new state of the art building from their current premises in central Hastings. These premises are not fully accessible to all.
• The centre will also house a ‘Walk In Centre’, staffed by two GPs as well as practice nurses. This will be open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, with the service available to anyone who wishes to use it, regardless of whether they live locally or are registered as a patient.
• The GP practices will offer a number of prevention services, including smoking cessation and some screening (for example, cervical screening).
Also on offer will be:
• a Sexual Health Clinic which will move from its current home at Ore Clinic in Hastings to a more central location with excellent public transport links. This will help promote better access to screening, prevention and treatment services.
• a Pharmacy
• a Dentist
• a range of community services offering clinics and treatment at a convenient location for patients.
