First £5m 'super surgery' opens in East London

The first in a £1 billion wave of new 'super surgeries' planned for NHS patients across the country officially opens its doors to patients today.

The £4.9 million health centre in East London, to be launched by Health Secretary John Reid, is the first 'super surgery' to open as part of the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) public, private partnership.

The 'super surgeries' are one-stop centres which will offer a range of healthcare services traditionally available only in hospitals, as well as access to GPs and other health and social care professionals.

When fully operational, the Newham surgery will bring GPs, health visitors, dentists, a pharmacy, a cardiology clinic, X-ray facilities, pathology services, optometry services and a healthy living cafe together in a single, one-stop centre.

John Reid said: "These new super surgeries will provide some of the most modern family doctor facilities anywhere in the country. NHS patients will be able to access a wide range of services right on their doorsteps, all under one roof.

He added: "The fantastic new facilities will also help attract some of the finest GPs to Britain's deprived areas where they are most needed."

The next of the new surgeries will open in Barnsley before the end of the year, with a steady stream of the new surgeries and other modern healthcare premises opening to patients throughout 2005.

NHS LIFT is being delivered on behalf of the department by Partnerships for Health, in co-operation with the local health economy. There are currently 42 NHS LIFT projects for which £195 million of enabling funds has been made available.

(gmcg/sp)