Ambitious plans for a £4.5million community health centre in Cradley Heath have been announced with residents asked to suggest potential locations for the state of the art facility.
The proposed new health centre, aimed at making medical services more accessible for local people, should be completed within the next three years.
Sandwell Primary Care Trust said the site will incorporate GP practices and other community health facilities such as district nurses.
Carla Hayes, Primary Care Commissioning Manger, said the PCT was in the process of choosing a location for the health centre, although a start date for construction had not yet been set.
She added: “We are currently looking at land options and consulting with local GPs and councillors.”
Councillor Ann Shackleton said the health centre was ‘top of the list’ of priorities for Cradley Heath.
She said: “In keeping with the ongoing regeneration of Cradley Health the new health centre is top of our list of priorities and we want to get it up and running as soon as possible.”
She also said one of the potential locations mentioned for the new health centre was the site of the derelict New Inn public house on Graingers Lane.
However she stressed no firm decisions had been made.
Ward councillor Julie Webb agreed the health centre was an “excellent opportunity” for the area.
She said: “Cradley Heath has an ageing population who may have trouble accessing local health services.
“The new health centre will mean residents have a range of excellent services available practically on their own doorstep.
“This is a community service for local people and it is therefore vital for residents to have a say in where it should be built.”
The plan is part of Sandwell PCT’s vision of Towards 2010, which aims to provide new or refurbished health centres across the borough with the emphasis on shifting more outpatient care and diagnostics out of hospitals and into community locations.
Anyone with suggestions for the location of the centre is invited to attend the next Cradley Heath and Old Hill Neighbourhood Forum at the Salvation Army Centre, Meredith Street, on Wednesday July 23 at 6pm.
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