£8.4m health centre opens its doors

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Photo: Laura Wild

Staff and visitors outside the Croft Shifa Health Centre on Belfield Road

Families from across the borough were today (Saturday 27 March 2010) invited to look around their new state-of-the-art heath centre in Wardleworth and Hamer.

The Croft Shifa Health Centre was officially opened yesterday and members of the public were today welcomed to an open day to show what the centre has on offer.

The new £8.4m centre on Belfield Road will focus on children’s services in the borough by combining new and existing health services from Baillie Street Health Centre.

New services include: a Child Development Unit, Children’s Physiotherapy and Children’s Occupational Therapy.

Services which have been moved from Baillie Street include: Dr Ko’s dental practice and Dr Babar’s GP surgery.

Liz Cobby, divisional head of services and facilities management for the Primary Care Trust, said: “This is the fourth new health centre we have opened in two and half years and we aim to serve the whole of the borough.

“We want local people to feel a sense of ownership about this centre and be able to tell us what they want and need.

“We will set up a legacy group for people to bring ideas so we can listen to them and improve what we provide to suit their needs. Our aim is to respond to the needs of the borough.”

Ms Cobby was happy to see so many people at the open day, she said: “Lots of people have come to look around and see what we have to offer, it is great, today is about making them aware of what is available to them.

“The Rochdale population deserves good health care the staff deserve to work in buildings which are fit for purpose.”

Mohammed Sohail a health trainer had a stand at the open day, he said: “This new centre is amazing the people that run it have a commitment to local people and it will make a massive difference to the borough.”