UK - Green signal for station clinic

[John Ashworth]

Green signal for station clinic

Eastbourne Today
Published Date: 08 May 2009

PLANNING permission has been given for a walk-in NHS health centre at Eastbourne railway station.

Now Eastbourne Borough Council has approved the centre, it is on course to open in mid-September. There will be 21 new jobs created.

Patients using the town centre surgery will be able to see a doctor or nurse from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. They
can make appointments or simply walk in.

Managed by South East Health Ltd, working with the Lighthouse Medical Practice in Eastbourne, the centre will be housed in a converted former sports bar at the train station.

Mary Jones, director of clinical services for South East Health, said, "We are delighted that our application has received so much local support. The building is actually in the railway station so it is ideally situated to give convenient access to people who live or work in Eastbourne and visitors to the area."

People already registered with an Eastbourne surgery can use the centre and records of their consultation will be transferred back to their doctor so their patient records remain complete. Patients can also register as patients with the new centre, as with any practice.

Staff vacancies will be created for two full-time and two part-time GPs, two healthcare assistants, four practice nurses, eight receptionists/telephonists, two patient services managers and a secretary.

South East Health will advertise details of the posts on its website – www.southeasthealth.com – from early May.