New GP health centre open day success

Date published: 01 October 2009

Residents and shoppers in Bury were given a sneak preview of a
revolutionary new GP led health centre which opens on October 1 2009.

The team from Rock Healthcare — which will open 7 days a week from 8am
until 8pm — held a special open day at the centre which is based at
Moorgate Primary Care Centre, Derby Way.

They also set up a stall on the market to people the chance to meet
the team and find out more about its services, ahead of the centre
opening. Around 30 patients registered on the open day, 8 more via the
website www.rockhealthcare.co.uk and there have since been more than
500 visits to the website.

Dr. Alison Close, Rock Healthcare’s lead GP said: “It was great to
meet so many members of the local community and explain what makes us
different! We managed to speak to a lot of people about the health
centre and the services we will have on offer.

“Rock Healthcare has been developed after public consultation with
residents in Bury about the type of health care they want in the
future. The results indicated that people wanted a health centre with
flexible opening hours, and that is what we are offering. We will be
open from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year which
means we will be very accessible.”

The health centre is open to anyone — either a non-registered patient
on a walk in basis — or by booking an appointment in advance.

Rock Healthcare’s Chair, Dr. Simon de Vial, says: “I am really proud
and excited that 18 months of hard work by local GPs and their staff,
BARDOC (the local out of hours care provider) and our patient
representatives has led to this significant improvement in services to
patients.”

Patients will also be able to register directly with the new GP Led
Health Centre which will offer a wide variety of patient care service.

Bury-based Rock Healthcare (www.rockhealthcare.co.uk) was awarded the
contract by NHS Bury to provide the medical service at the centre. It
is designed to complement existing GP services in the town.