Rotherham Community Health Centre is to be officially opened by Rotherham MP’s, Rt Hon Denis MacShane, John Healey and Kevin Barron during a plaque unveiling ceremony along with staff from the centre and VIP’s across Rotherham.

The   centre opened to the public in January 2009 to provide a wide range of existing and new health services, all under one roof.  The state of the art centre complete with panoramic windows overlooking Rotherham canal built to maximise natural light into the building has been designed to enhance and improve healthcare by offering quicker and more convenient access and greater flexibility for patients.

It also means that some patients can receive care closer to home and avoid the need to go to hospital for some types of treatment.  This building represents a significant investment by NHS Rotherham to support our commitment to improving health outcomes for the people of Rotherham through the delivery of our strategy Better Health, Better Lives.

Alan Tolhurst, Chairman NHS Rotherham said;

“We are really lucky to have such fantastic facilities right on our door step. The centre means that many patients have a one stop shop for healthcare with a walk in centre, diagnostic centre with X-ray and scanning facilities, a GP practice and a pharmacy all under one roof. The town centre location is really convenient for people across Rotherham and we are proud to be able to offer such a wide range of high quality health services.”   

The services are open to all and can be accessed either by referral from a GP or other healthcare practitioner or self-referral.  Services such as the Rotherham Health Advice Centre, Patient Advice and Liaison Services and the Walk-in Centre can be accessed on a drop in basis without an appointment.

The Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP for Rotherham said;

“The NHS in Rotherham is at the leading edge of local health care and I think it is marvellous that we have such a stunning facility with a good variety of services under one roof. Today’s NHS strives to bring health services closer to people’s home and this is exactly what this centre has achieved. I’m privileged that along with colleagues, I have been invited to open the new centre and will look forward to following its future development over the next few years”.

ENDS

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Note to Editors:

1. Rotherham Community Health Centre provides the following services:
   • Podiatry
   • Minor Surgery
   • Contraception and Sexual Health
   • Speech and Language Therapy
   • Physiotherapy
   • Primary Ear Care
   • Audiology
   • GP out of hours service
   • Phlebotomy (Blood Samples)
   • Community Dental Services
   • Rotherham Health Advice Centre & Patient Advice and Liaison Services
   • Diagnostic Facilities (X-ray, ultrasound, echo-cardiography, bone density and MRI scanning)
   • Walk-in Centre (open 7 days a week – 8am to 9pm)
   • Dispensing Pharmacy (open 7 days a week, including bank holidays, till 10pm)
   • GP Practice – Chantry Bridge Medical Practice
2. NHS Rotherham leads the borough’s health service by investing £420 million of your money into local health services. Our aim is Better Health and Better Lives for everyone in Rotherham. NHS Rotherham pays for the services provided by all the health services in the Borough, including all GPs, dentists, and pharmacists, community health services, Rotherham Hospital and Rotherham’s mental health services.
3. NHS Rotherham also provides a range of community health services through Rotherham Community Health Services, including Health Visiting, District Nursing, Podiatry and Contraception and Sexual Health services.
4. Our vision for the next five years is for:
   • Babies to be born healthy and have the best start in life
   • Children and young people to be fit and active
   • Quick and convenient access to excellent services for all
   • People with long term conditions will be supported to manage their health and access services
   • Easy access to services for people with mental health problems
   • People to be able to choose where they die
5. NHS Rotherham is still legally a Primary Care Trust.

For further information please email Fiona Topliss, Head of Communications, NHS Rotherham or call 01709 302073