Lord Mayor and local MP open new Erdington health centre
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham and the local MP made it a day to remember on 5 November as they opened an innovative High Street health centre in Erdington.
Believed to be one of the first health facilities of its kind in the UK, the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Walk in Centre occupies a prime position at 196 High Street, Erdington. Behind a “shop window”, the newly refurbished building hosts a variety of NHS and other health services over the three floors.
The ground floor houses a health and local services information shop, provided by Health Exchange. Shoppers can pop in for health information and advice, and there is space for groups and organisations to deliver services for the local community, including stop smoking sessions, Health Exchange’s Health Trainer service and the Expert Patient Programme.
On the first floor is a new GP practice and GP-led health centre, run by Badger Midlands Medical. People can walk in and see a GP without an appointment between 8am and 8pm every day, 365 days a year, or register for appointments at the practice either in person or by calling 0121 686 8010.
On the second floor, young people can access free contraceptive services and other sexual health services on a walk-in basis at the New Attitudes contraception and sexual health centre.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Len Gregory, and Erdington MP Jack Dromey cut a ribbon to officially open the centre, after taking a tour of the new facilities and chatting to staff and patients.
Councillor Gregory said: “I am delighted to be opening the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Walk in Centre. The centre, with its High Street location, makes it easy for people to drop in to access a variety of high quality health information and services, including GPs. The centre will benefit hundreds of people living in and around Erdington, who now have access to a GP without an appointment all year round.”
Paul Sabapathy CBE, Chair of NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “Everyone worked very hard on getting the centre ready for patients, and we are thrilled that the Lord Mayor and local MP officially opened the building. The practice was developed thanks to extra funding to open practices in areas such as Erdington that have lower levels of GPs.”
Ends
Enquiries
Above is a photograph of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Len Gregory, Paul Sabapathy and Jack Dromey MP officially opening the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Walk-in Centre.
For more information, please contact Sarah Millard, NHS Birmingham East and North External Communications Manager, on 0121 380 0620.
Notes to editors
NHS Birmingham East and North is one of 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) within the English NHS. As a PCT, it is responsible for the wise investment of public money to ensure health improvement, access to health services and where appropriate the provision of health services to a local population of some 438,000 people, across 17 wards in north and east Birmingham.
We organise and fund the delivery of health care with the involvement of local people, maximising health outcomes for every pound spent, referred to as commissioning.
About Health Exchange
Health Exchange is a social enterprise dedicated to encouraging people to make positive choices to improve their health and wellbeing. Working directly with individuals, and through local community organisations, primary care centres, GP practices and pharmacies, they provide information, signposting and support to enable people to choose a healthier lifestyle. Their website is at www.healthexchange.org.uk.
Badger Healthcare is a local, not-for-profit organisation. It provides GP out-of-hours services to patients in six PCTs in the Birmingham and surrounding areas. Badger Healthcare is part of the Badger Group, developed by a co-operative of GPs in Birmingham and Solihull.
Midlands Medical Partnership is a partnership of 26 Birmingham General Practitioners who provide NHS GP services to 48,000 patients across Birmingham.
New Attitudes is a free NHS contraception and sexual health clinic open six days a week as a drop-in service. It will provide all methods of contraception and testing, treatment and screening of sexually transmitted infections. This service will also provide support and training for GPs, nurses and other professional in contraception and sexual health.
