Recently, I dropped by the brand new Cinderford Medical Centre on Valley Road. As you can see from both my beaming smile and the pictures attached to this post, it really is a fantastic new facility.
The highly anticipated facility heralds a real transformation in GP services in our area and replaces Cinderford’s existing health centre and houses both Dockham Surgery and Forest Health Care.
As well as adding crucial capacity for local health services dealing with the pandemic, the building has a number of special features to make it welcoming for people living with dementia and disabilities, and offers enhanced infection control standards for both patients and staff.
The centre will also champion the power of gardening and the outdoors to support health and wellbeing with its own community allotment where local people can grow fruit and vegetables, linking into local social prescribing initiatives.
I am really pleased that the new Medical Centre is now up and running with both patients and the team of NHS professionals getting the state of the art facilities they need and deserve.
Of course, this is just the beginning of the increased investment in the Forest of Dean’s NHS facilities over the coming years, with a brand new, state of the art £11 million community hospital destined for the heart of the Forest of Dean.
This Conservative Government is putting its money where its mouth is with when it comes to the NHS – investing in our NHS nationally and locally, giving it the cash and backing it needs.
The future is bright for our local NHS facilities, and Cinderford’s new Medical Centre is just the start!