Health Minister officially opens Bath NHS Healthcare Centre
Minister of State for Health, Ben Bradshaw MP has officially opened the Bath NHS Healthcare Centre on James Street West, which is being provided by Assura Minerva.
The Minister was joined by Dr Andrew Smith, a Bath GP and chair of Assura Minerva and Malcolm Hanney, chair of NHS Bath and North East Somerset (NHS B&NES), as well as staff as he officially opened the new service.
Speaking at the event, Ben Bradshaw MP congratulated the Centre for being the first in the region to open.
He said: “We were getting feedback from the public who, having seen improvements with waiting times, wanted to see a difference in primary care. After three weeks, to see such a big increase in footfall shows that the demand is there.
“We know a lot of people go to A&E on weekends when GP surgeries are usually closed. Now they have a GP service to go to, it will help take the pressure off A&E."
Located at the existing Riverside Health Centre, the new service welcomed its first patients at the beginning of April and has proved popular with patients with higher than expected demand for walk-in treatments.
Open from 8am to 8pm, 365 days a year, patients can visit the Centre with or without an appointment and do not have to be registered to be seen.
Assura Minerva is delivering the service in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Health and Social Care Services, Riverside Surgery and BANES Emergency Medical Service.
The aim of the service is to provide local people with rapid access to treatment which doesn’t require A&E attendance which should help to alleviate pressure on the Royal United Hospital's A&E department.
It is in addition to and complements existing GP surgeries and all services that were previously available at the Riverside Health Centre continue to operate. These include the Riverside GP Surgery, emergency dental services, contraceptive and sexual health services. The nurse led walk-in centre has been incorporated into the new GP-led service.
Commenting on the official opening, Dr Andrew Smith, a Bath GP and chairman of Assura Minerva said: "We are delighted to welcome the Minister to open the new Bath NHS Healthcare Centre, and meet the staff who have worked so hard to start this new service. The people working in the Centre are the people to thank today; they have done a fantastic job in getting the Centre open and the new service started."
Malcolm Hanney, chair of NHS B&NES, said: "Open from 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening is giving patients greater access to GP services. I am very pleased that the 27 BANES practices in partnership with Assura, a leading healthcare provider, won the open tender process."
Some of the services on offer include blood pressure checks, contraceptive advice, health promotion, minor cuts and wound management, muscle and joint injury attention and help with stomach and skin complaints.
Bath NHS Healthcare Centre
Riverside Health Centre, James Street West, Bath BA1 2BT
Tel. 01225 478 811
Opening times: 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday
Please click here to visit the Bath NHS Healthcare Centre website (website opens in new window)
ENDS
Press enquiries regarding Assura Minerva LLP to:
Andrew McKeon, AJM Public Relations. Tel: 01423 734 560; Mobile: 07802 484 155
Louise Bathersby, Assura Group. Tel: 020 7107 3830
Please click here to view a printable version of this news item (PDF, opens in new window)
L-R: Amanda Simpson (business director, Assura Minerva), Malcolm Hanney (chair, NHS B&NES), Ben Bradshaw MP (Minister of State for Health), Rhona MacDonald (CEO, NHS B&NES), Dr Andrew Smith (Bath GP and chair of Assura Minerva), Dr Vivienne McVey (medical director, Assura).
