New health centre on track

Inside the new Hamer and Wardleworth health centre.

Construction on the new health centre in the Hamer and Wardleworth area of Rochdale is progressing, with the building set to open early 2010.

The £8.4million development on Belfield Road, which will be a hub for children’s services, will be the fourth new health centre to open in the borough as part of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale’s plans to improve access to local health services and bring care much closer to patients’ homes.

John Pierce, Chairman at NHS HMR said: “Building work on the new centre is progressing exceptionally well. This week we’ve had a sneak preview inside and you can see from the pictures just how impressive it looks. We look forward to getting the keys towards the end of the year so we can begin moving services in ready for our patients to benefit in the New Year.”

Building work is due to be completed in November with services beginning to move in early 2010.

Services at the new centre include:

Audiology, Child Development Unit, Children’s Community Team, Children’s Physiotherapy, Children’s Occupational Therapy, Community Dentistry, Dental practice (Dr Ko’s from Baillie Street Health Centre), District Nurse Treatment Room, GP Practice (Dr Babar’s from Baillie Street Health Centre), Leg ulcer assessment, Orthoptics, Opthalmology Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (for eyes), Podiatry, Psychological therapies, base for Health Visitors, School Health Practitioners and District Nursing Team, Sexual Health and Contraceptive Services, Speech and language therapy.