Just the tonic

For the 6,000 residents of Grange Park - with more than their fair share of health and social problems - have been waiting ten years for this purpose-built doctors' surgery with clinics and therapy facilities.

Ward councillor and Blackpool housing chairman Les Kersh, who officially opened the Dinmore Avenue centre yesterday (November 19), said: "I'm very pleased that we've got there after all this time.

"When the Community Association set up ten years ago, a proper health centre was the first project we aimed for.

"We just had one GP holding surgeries in the church hall - people had to queue up outside.

"People moving on to the estate used to stay with their old doctors, often miles away, causing problems both for the patients and their GPs.

"We did a survey to provide the statistics of how much it was needed, but we couldn't find a way of getting the money.

"Then 18 months ago someone asked the Muir Housing Group if they could help, they said yes, and I'm delighted to say it's already being well used."

This is the first time the Chester-based Muir Group - a housing association - has built a health centre, but it has already built homes for rent on the estate and four flats are incorporated in the scheme.

The centre has two GPs, Dr John Bedell and Dr Goksel Celikkol, plus a health visitor, community psychiatric nurse, midwife, other health professionals and social services staff.

The North West Lancashire Health Authority, which pushed hard to get the project off the ground, provided £300,000 for equipment plus £100,000 a year for running costs.

Blackpool Council, Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Community Health Council also contributed to the negotiations.

Yesterday the centre held an open day, with visits from Blackpool football players, plus aromatherapy, holistic healing, a quiz and competition.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.