The new state-of-the-art Barbara Castle Way Health Centre has opened its doors in Blackburn and staff are hailing the new building and services.
The five-level health centre opened in October and includes GP practices, dentists, mental health clinics, speech therapy, sight and hearing clinics, physiotherapy, a pharmacy and family drop-in, diagnostics from the latest hi-tech X-ray and scanning equipment, and minor operations will be performed there.
The Barbara Castle Way Health Centre also includes the ‘Everybody’ resource centre for young people supporting health and wellbeing including sexual health, drug and alcohol advice, emotional and mental health and general help and advice.
Here, a selection of staff talk about the new centre:
Speech and language therapy
Cath McCoo, speech and language therapist, said the new centre was ‘wonderful’: “There are lovely, spacious treatment rooms which are light and airy so they are so much better. We have had a lot of positive feedback about the centre from families and children already.
“We were originally based in Larkhill and Montague Health Centres so it is great that we have now come together under one roof. There are two treatment rooms and we also have an observation room so students can observe and help with their training without distracting the patients.
“The feedback we have had so far from patients is really good, especially from the children and young people who really like the nice rooms and the space, there have been a lot of positive comments from the families.”
Sexual health
Sue Capstick, clinical business manager for sexual health, which was also formerly based at Larkhill and Montague Health Centres, added: “It feels as though there is a real emphasis put on the quality of the space as it is a specially purpose-built centre and shows the Council and the Care Trust Plus value the importance of sexual health.
“The sexual health clinic provides services to any age group, not just young people, so in that sense it is great to be so close to the town centre.
“So far we have had some really positive comments back. It is really important for this kind of service that the environment is nice and it is also in a very discreet part of the building so people really feel their privacy is respected, and they feel safe and comfortable.”
GP surgeries
GP and member of the clinical commissioning group at the Care Trust Plus Dr Tom Phillips, who was previously based at Brownhill Surgery, said: “This is a great environment. It is a highly modern centre and a new start and it will allow us to deliver highly modern services in an innovative way.
“It is a new start for the team and we are very positive for the future. This centre has easier access for people, there is plenty of space and it is a great environment. It is a way forward for doctors, nurses and health professionals to work in a more integrated fashion.
“It is a really high quality and we will make sure the facilities stay that way and we will continue to improve the modern and quality health care for our patients.”
