Healthy start at new walk-in hub for GPs

Burntwood's new multi-million-pound, walk-in health centre opens to the public next week. South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust launches the new health and wellbeing centre in High Street on Tuesday.

The facility will be both a GP surgery and a walk-in centre, and will be open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The trust hopes that the new facility, which will house four GPs next door to Burntwood Leisure Centre, will ease the current pressure on existing family doctors in the area.

Stuart Poyner, chief executive of the trust, said the centre would be a multi-purpose hub in Burntwood.

"This centre is part of the PCT strategy to improve and develop additional permanent premises, not only for GP practices, but also PCT provider services staff and our colleagues from social care, children and lifelong learning, and voluntary organisations, all of whom are working so positively with us.

"The centre will be a multi-purpose hub, providing the building blocks for a healthier and stronger local community through a focus on integrated health, wellbeing and fitness – all in one building."

The building will house the health centre temporarily until a permanent location has been identified.

Permission for the building expires at the end of September 2011, when the centre must be removed from the site and the land cleared and restored to its original condition.

The PCT appointed NHSolutions to manage and run the practice in January after receiving interest from a number of potential service providers.

Dr Omar Rahim, medical director of NHSolutions, said that the centre would be providing a range of services including pregnancy care, travel services and dressing removal, as well as help with managing chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

* For more information, visit www.burntwoodhealth.co.uk.