Health Centre Plans On Show
An event, which will span two days, is being held for people
interested in finding out more about the outline plans for the old
Ashford Hospital site in King’s Avenue.
The event at St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School,
Western Avenue, Ashford is being held on Friday 15 May between 2.30
pm and 8pm and Saturday 16 May between 10am and 2pm.
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is looking to develop the site with
a new health centre which will bring services closer to local
people’s homes. It is intended that part of the site will be sold
to help fund the health centre and this will be developed for
housing.
On view at the event will be the design proposals for the health
centre and outline plans for the residential area.
Costain has been appointed as the development partner to design
and manage the construction of the new health centre which is
planned to be completed and ready to deliver services to the people
of Ashford by 2012.
The appointment of Costain was made after a formal procurement
process, which included an interview panel with representation from
the local patient and public stakeholder group.
Approval was given in June 2008 from the Department of Health
for the new healthcare development and work is expected to start in
late 2010.
Amanda Harrison, Director of Assurance and Strategic Development
at the PCT said: “I am delighted that we have taken these important
next steps towards developing the new King’s Avenue health
centre.
"The development offers a great opportunity to provide more
healthcare in community settings, so that people won’t have to
travel to an acute hospital site as they often need to now.
“We are working in partnership with the local GPs to agree the
full range of services that will be delivered from the new building
and we will continue to involve local people and other partners as
the plans are finalised over the coming months.”
The feedback event will be staffed by members of the project
team working on the development, who will be able to answer
questions and discuss any issues. Feedback forms will be available
to capture views on the proposals.
For people not able to attend, details of the proposals and an
opportunity to give feedback will also be available online from 15 May.
Deadline for feedback is 5pm on 15 June 2009.
Media Release 0143/09
11/05/2009