News Release
5 August 2009

Residents in Yate cannot have failed to see the new health and integrated children’s centre developing in Yate and now NHS South Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire Council want your help to come up with a name for the centre.

The new £12million centre will include a range of health and family services. The centre is a joint venture with South Gloucestershire Council so residents can access the services they need all in one place. There will be a children’s hub within the health centre, including a SureStart centre which offers stay and play sessions, a Connexions drop-in office, youth clinics, maternity services and access to health visitors.

The health centre will house GP surgeries, an x-ray facility, treatment rooms, podiatry clinic and a minor injuries unit as well as a range of outpatient clinics. A Boots pharmacy will also be open on site.

Penny Harris, Chief Executive of NHS South Gloucestershire, said: “The new centre is almost finished and we would like the residents of Yate to help us name it. The centre belongs to the community so it seems fitting that your suggestions help us choose a name.

“We already had so much support from the local community with this project. Local schools helped us to decorate the hoardings and the pupils have had mementoes of their school and wishes for the future buried in a time capsule beneath the reception area of the building.”

“NHS South Gloucestershire is close to completing the construction of a new facility and we hope local people like it. The new centre integrates well with community facilities generally, and has a modern, pleasing environment” added Ms Harris.

Councillor Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: “As soon as the new health and children’s centre opens, it will quickly become an important part of the community and will play an essential role in improving the health and well-being of the surrounding population, so I think allowing local people to help decide the name is just what the doctor ordered.

“Bringing a wide range of services of together under one roof will make them much more accessible for local people and it’s really pleasing that this is almost a reality.”

The old part two storey Health Centre adjacent to the shopping precinct, was opened in 1970. The site is part of the Town Centre precinct adjacent to West Walk and accessed from a shared service road off Kennedy Way.

To help residents come up with a suitable name the following potted history about where the site stand might give you some ideas. The site history has been traced back through records:-

• The old part two storey Health Centre adjacent to the shopping precinct, was opened in 1970. The site is part of the Town Centre precinct adjacent to West Walk and accessed from a shared service road off Kennedy Way.

• The site was originally agricultural holdings, being part of Thorn’s Farm in 1920.

• The 1960 ordinance survey  map clearly locates the existing Health Centre within the identified Celestine mining area.

The local History Centre records the mining industry as follows:

 “Celestine, or spar as its generally known, was first dug in the late 1880’s and was initially used for refining sugar beet. At the time Yates Spar fields accounted for over 70% of the world’s production. Later it was widely used in pyrotechnics and flares and in more recent times in the electronics industries. Initially deposits, stretching from Stanshawes towards Wickwar, were dug by hand and then later by mechanical means. The national importance of this mineral meant that the land could not be built upon until all the mineral had been extracted. The closure, in 1994, of the Bristol Mineral and Land Co. Ltd. brought an end to this important industry.”

Please send you suggestions by August 31st to: Ian Longden, NHS South Gloucestershire, 1 Monarch Court, Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire BS15 7FH or email: Ian.Longden@sglos-pct.nhs.uk

For further information ring Fiona Reid on 0117 330 2451 or Sue Pratt on 0117 330 2499.

Notes to editors

The building design has taken into account that all the elevations will be seen from busy public access routes, namely West Walk and Kennedy Way. It has been designed and built to the latest standards for thermal insulation and incorporates high efficiency fittings, reducing fuel consumption and waste. Outside there is car parking for staff, patients and visitors, including wheelchair users, along with an integrated docking area for blood transfusion and other clinical mobile services.

The main reception will be connected via an enclosed covered walkway to a main public entrance on West Walk to the north and a public entrance from the car parks to the south.

To top of page