WHEN we have occasion to visit a health centre, the chances are we are feeling pretty low.

And that state of mind is not improved one little bit if we have the misfortune to arrive at a centre like Larkhill, Blackburn.

It has come in for severe criticism by Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council for looking "tatty" and uninviting and having security fencing similar to that at Fort Knox.

Disabled parking bays were occupied by the mammography unit and paving was described as dangerous.

The CHC want the place re-designing. They are right. Patients who visit health centres need putting at ease.

Disabled people should not be denied parking spaces and while security is vitally important in this day and age it should be possible, with the aid of modern technology, to protect a health centre without giving the impression it is a front line observation post.

Let's hope that CommuniCare, who are responsible for health centres, follow the CHC's advice and take some of the pain out of visits to Larkhill.

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