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DOZENS OF NEW DOCTORS SURGERIES AND HEALTH CENTRES
NEW NHS health surgeries will become a more common a sight in
towns and cities across England under ambitious plans to open 125
more health centres by the end of this year.
The NHS expects to have 625 new health centres housing services
appropriate to local need open by the end of the year, up 125 from
500 at the start of 2005. By 2008, the total will stand at 750. The
NHS has already met its target to refurbish or replace 3,000 GP
premises and build 500 primary care centres.
Rather than being like-for-like replacements, the purpose built
centres will offer a wider range of services under one roof, such as
community nurses, district nurses, midwifery, dentistry,
physiotherapy, pharmacy, optometry and podiatry, as well as GPs.
Health Minister Lord Warner also reaffirmed the Government's
commitment to building, re-building and refurbishing at least 50
community hospitals as part of plans to move more care closer to
patients' homes.
Speaking at the NHS Confederation conference today, he said:-
"We are witnessing huge investment in the primary care estate. Since
1997, PCT returns indicate that there has been a 60% increase in
investment in GP premises. The time is now right to move care
closer to home and make care more accessible and responsive to
patients. We expect to see an additional 125 primary care centres
built by the end of this year, a rate of expansion that I am told is
quicker than Tesco. Over the next 5 years, we will see an
exponential growth of the range of services available in local
communities and the radical reconstruction of the way community
health and social care services are delivered. It is better
for patients if long-term conditions, like diabetes, heart disease
and care for our aging population, the big challenges facing the NHS in the 21st century, are dealt with in the local
community rather than in large hospitals."
GP's premises, health centres and polyclinics, as well as community
hospitals will continue to benefit from huge investment, some £812
million in private sector and £210 million public sector funding has
already been injected through NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust
(LIFT) alone. There are 42 NHS LIFT schemes established with another
8 in procurement. This has, to date, delivered 68 new buildings open
to patients with another building a week opening during 2006.
The new community hospitals will offer patients access to a wide
range of health and social care services closer to their homes. They
will complement more specialist hospitals, providing patients with
speedy access to key medical tests, day case and outpatient surgery
for simpler procedures, social services and even out-of-hours GPs.
A number of new and redeveloped community hospitals have either
opened in the last few years or are in the planning process. These
include:- - Edgware Community Hospital - opened in March 2005
- Dovercourt and Harwich Community Hospital -
opened January 2006
- Willesden Community Hospital -
open
- Queen Mary's Community Hospital, Roehampton
- Newton Hospital redevelopment
- Purley War Memorial Hospital
redevelopment
- St Margaret's Community Hospital
redevelopment, Epping
- Potters Bar Community Hospital
redevelopment
- Cheshunt Community Hospital
extension
There are 350 community hospitals in England offering a range of
services.
Easter fun for everyone!
EASTER is just around the corner
and Town Centre Warrington has baskets full of entertainment to suit
all.
Activities to keep everyone entertained are:-
Until Mon 1 May:- Golden Squares Spring Winning Spree 1000's of
prizes to be won with Golden Squares scratch card promotion. Golden
Square 9am to 5.30pm. Call 01925 655053
Until Sat 15 April:- Peter Oakley, Considering the Past
Exhibition Peter shows the best of his 50 year career in exhibiting,
painting & printmaking, all under one roof. Warrington Museum
(Gallery Four) Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm, Sat 9am to 4.30pm last entry
4pm. Free. For more details ring the Exhibitions Team
01925 442396.
Tues 11 & Thur 13 April:- Dinosaur Masks and Easter Cards Drop
in event. Make a magnificent dinosaur mask and prehistoric Easter
Egg cards. Warrington Museum:- 10.30am-12.30pm, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
both days free. Call 01925 442395.
Thurs 13 April:- Maundy Thursday Evening Services. St Mary's R.C
Church, Buttermarket St 7.30pm.
Friday 14 April:- Good Friday Service Salvation Army Citadel
10am. Good Friday Passion St Mary's R.C Church,
Buttermarket Street at 3pm.
Saturday 15 April:- Easter Vigil at St Mary's R.C Church,
Buttermarket Street 9pm.
Saturday 15 April:- Spongebob Squarepants comes to Warrington.
There will be special guest appearances by children's favourite
Spongebob Squarepants at:- Market Gate 11am; Market 12 noon;
Cockhedge 1pm; Golden Sq 2pm and lastly at Market Gate 3pm
Sunday 16 April:- Easter day Service. Salvation Army
Citadel at 10am. |
SEE
A RISING STAR OF JAZZ AT WARRINGTON’S PYRAMID
SINGER and songwriter Julia Biel,
heralded as “a star on the rise” by The Guardian will
give one life performance in the North West this April as part of
her first UK tour. On Friday 28 April Julia’s great voice and unique
style will fill the walls of Warrington’s Pyramid.
Julia Biel has been compared to Bjork, Tom Yorke, Billie Holiday,
Alison Goldfrapp and Rickie Lee Jones. While critics struggle to
define her sound as clearly jazzy, nu-folk or soul, all agree she is
a huge talent with her own style. Her music is full of delicate
arrangements woven out of acoustic instrumentation that explores a
variety of moods. A former Perrier Vocalist of the Year Award
winner, Julia is a skilful songwriter with and ability to deliver
emotional content with depth and authenticity.
Last summer Biel released her debut album Not Alone. “Blessed
with an expressive, beautiful voice” suggested Time Out, the
album is “a seductive affair with songs that mark her out from
the crowd”. Indeed, Julia immediately grabbed the attention
of critics, concert-bookers and fans and the album received a
plethora of glowing reviews and is out-selling many of her
contemporaries. With news of the debut album spreading fast, the ad
men of Soho quickly tuned into her music and recruited her as the
focus of a global print campaign ‘I am My Music’ for the new
Nokia MP3 player/mobile.
Meanwhile her work with London's trail-blazing F-IRE Collective, a
community of London-based experimental and dedicated musicians who
caught the attention of BBC Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson, who invited
Julia to record a track for his prestigious ‘Worldwide’ radio
show. Her working relationship with drummer Seb Rochford, the
driving force behind Mercury Prize nominated act Polar Bear, is set
to continue with the spring release of a two-track 7” single by
Polar Bear.
Judging by the success of Not Alone, one could be forgiven for
thinking that Julia had the backing of a major record deal.
Astonishingly, the record was written, recorded and produced by Biel
herself, who also arranged her own manufacturing and distribution.
Put simply, news of Julia Biel’s genuine talent has spread by word
of mouth, with no clever marketing strategies and no press campaign.
“By far the most interesting recording this year from a UK vocalist
to whom the word ‘jazz’ can be attached... outstanding, at moments
spine-chillingly beautiful. Go out and buy it.” ****
The Independent on Sunday
“One of the most underrated vocalists we have … heartfelt
songwriting… a truly distinctive and charming singer/songwriter.”
**** Jazzwise
“Soulful, expressive and subtle. Julia Biel is a star on the rise.”
The Guardian
“Her voice is light and airy with a folky innocence… beautifully
controlled with striking and original arrangements.” The
Observer
“A new face to watch.” The Independent on Sunday
“A remarkable debut album… an emerging star ... a singer with
precociously personal style.” The Guardian
Tickets are £8. The show starts at 7:30pm. To buy tickets call the
Pyramid box office on 01925 442345.
New season highlights for Spring 2006 at
Warrington’s Pyramid:-
The Comedy Store - 1 Apr/6 May/3 Jun
Gervase Phinn - 18 Apr
Warrington Film Festival - 7/8 Apr
Saw Doctors - 26 Apr
Julia Biel - 28 Apr
Bandana the Opera - 29 Apr
God's Official, Reform Theatre Company - 29 Apr
Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers - 3 May
Will Smith - 12 May
Liverpool Mozart Orchestra - 13 May
Ardal O'Hanlon - 1 Jun
Justin Moorhouse - 10 Jun
An Evening of Mozart and Schubert (Northern Chamber
Orchestra) - 23 Jun
For more details visit:-
www.pyramid.org.uk
Pyramid & Parr Hall,
Cultural Quarter, Palmyra Square, Warrington WA1 1BL |
