Secretary of State for Health opens Nye Bevan House

Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson MP, with Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale NHS Chairman, John Pierce, at the naming ceremony of the state-of-the-art health centre, Nye Bevan House

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Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health, officially opened the new multimillion pound health centre, Nye Bevan House, in Milkstone and Deeplish.

Mr Johnson said the new centre was a "fabulous facility" and part of a major investment programme by the government in health services.

In a moving speech, the Health Secretary explained how Bevan had always regretted the fact that health centres had not developed in the way he wanted. “When the NHS was launched in 1948 a leaflet was pushed through everybody’s door pointing out what people could expect from their new NHS,” Alan Johnson said. “Health centres were included in this provision.

“Ten years later in 1958, not long before he died, Bevan said he regretted the fact that they had not fulfilled that part of the pledge. I am delighted that we’re now able to do that. I think he would like the fact that we’re bringing these centres into areas where there has traditionally been a problem with them not being as well represented in terms of GPs as other areas and tackling what has been called the ‘inverse care law’ where those who need health facilities are least likely to receive it. This is a brilliant resource for the local community with a real wow factor. There will be another five or six launched across the Borough and they will make a huge difference.”

He added: "Nye Bevan House is a one stop shop for local people to access health services. It has been built to the very highest standards, standards that the local community should be proud of.

"This initiative is designed to change the way health problems are tackled, the emphasis is on prevention and in treating lifestyle diseases. Health needs have changed significantly since the NHS started 60 years ago. Today preventing and treating illnesses such as diabetes is important."

The £10million development on Maclure Road will house four GP practices and four dental suites as well as a wide range of services, including some which only used to be available at hospital.

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale NHS Chairman, John Pierce, said: “There are four audiology suites, a physiotherapy service with a fully equipped gymnasium, an optician, a pharmacy and a café, managed by Rochdale MIND. The list of services goes on and on and the great thing about them is that they are all in one place, under one roof, right in the heart of the local community for all Rochdale Borough residents to use.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen welcomed the opening, saying: “This centre has been six years in the planning and the result of close co-operation between Rochdale Council and the Primary Care Trust. It was the Council who made the site available when the Sparrow Hill Annex was closed when the school moved to the new Broadfield School.

“This is an iconic building and will provide up to-date health facilities for an area that has traditionally been underdoctored.

"I am delighted that the Health Secretary Alan Johnson, for whom I have a high regard, could find the time to visit us in Rochdale.

"In the 60th anniversary of the NHS, where the first NHS hospital was opened in Greater Manchester, it is appropriate that it is named after one of the founders of the NHS.”

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, who invited the Health Secretary to open the new health centre, believes that the founder of the NHS would be proud of the multi-million pound health centre.

Speaking after the Health Secretary, Alan Johnson’s visit, Mr Danczuk said the chief architect of the NHS would be proud to see his wish to expand the capacity of primary care being fulfilled.

“Nye Bevan wanted to see health centres when he launched the NHS and I think these reforms will safeguard his legacy,” he said. “By shifting care out of hospitals and closer to people’s homes I think we will be able to tackle some of the deep health inequalities that have existed in Rochdale for too long and radically transform the way health services are delivered.”

The Labour Councillor for Milkstone and Deeplish, Imtiaz Ahmed, added that he had already received very positive feedback from people in his ward about the new centre. “We’re very honoured that the Health Secretary came to name this centre and we recognise that this move is a vital step to delivering modern, 21st century healthcare,” he said. “At the moment people in my ward can take two buses to get to the hospital and then wait up to four hours for an X-ray. Here they can be referred straight away by a GP and be sent downstairs to be X-rayed immediately. There is less travel involved, quicker turn-around times for tests and more specialities. The fact that we can now offer a full range of healthcare services under one roof provides a great base for improving the health of local people.”

Services in the centre include:

• Four GP practices (existing practices)
• Four dental suites (for PCT Community Dental Services and an NHS Dental Practice)
• Pharmacist
• Optician
• Physiotherapy (including fully equipped gymnasium)
• Occupational therapy
• Audiology (with four specialist audiology rooms)
• Speech and language therapy
• Ophthalmology
• Orthoptics
• Podiatry
• Primary Care Mental Health Services
• District nurse treatment rooms
• Sexual Health Services
• Minor operations room
• A child health clinic
• Health Visitors
• Community Café (managed by Rochdale MIND)

The development, which has been designed by Nightingale Architects and built by construction company, the Eric Wright Group, will provide modern and spacious facilities for both patients and staff.

Services will begin to move into the centre over the next couple of months, with the centre being fully operational by the end of the year.