Heald Green health centre to get makeover at last

4.37.01pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 27th Mar 2006

Mark with Chair of Patients Group Alf Churchhouse (right) and local GP Dr Kevin Dean

Long-awaited plans to re-build Heald Green Health Centre were put on show last week with local MP Mark Hunter in attendance.

The new health centre (to be built on the existing site on Finney Lane) is expected to take around a year to build and temporary facilities will be available at the Heald Green Village Hall on Outwood Road in the meantime.

Mark Hunter, as new MP for Cheadle as well as his predecessor Patsy Calton campaigned alongside the local patients group and residents for several years to get a new health centre for Heald Green to replace the existing building which dates back from the 1960s.

Mark said, "Local people have waited too long for a new health centre here but it finally looks as if we are making real progress. The old building is clearly no longer fit for purpose and hasn't been for several years now. Despite the difficult conditions, though, staff here have continued to do a magnificent job for local residents. The doctors, nurses and support staff deserve these improvements as much as anyone."

"A lot of local people have campaigned for some considerable time to get this project off the ground and I'm glad that their persistence and determination has paid off."