It’s Official - The Junction Health Centre is now open

Jane Ellison, Member of Parliament for Battersea, joined NHS Wandsworth and Care UK to officially open Wandsworth’s newest medical facility, The Junction Health Centre, on Friday 11 March 2011.

Located in the arches at Clapham Junction Station, the building is owned by Network Rail and was constructed by Osbornes, houses a bright airy comfortable waiting area, eight clinical rooms and a spacious staff area.  

Unveiling a commemorative plaque, Jane Ellison MP told attendees: “As a hub of local activity Clapham Junction is a great place to put a modern, easily accessible health facility like this, as the popularity of The Junction Health Centre shows. High quality NHS services are being delivered by an experienced health and social care provider and this may well prove a model for future health care projects. Many of my constituents don’t find it easy to visit the doctor but this new facility will really help them to look after their health so a big ‘thank you’ to NHS Wandsworth and Care UK.” 

In 2008 NHS Wandsworth’s public consultation confirmed Clapham Junction as the preferred site for additional NHS services. In May 2009, Care UK, supported by AT Medics, secured a five year contract to provide a range of services for registered and unregistered patients,  including  treatment for minor illnesses and injuries between 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Although the new Junction Health Centre’s building has only just officially opened, the service itself has been in operation for almost one year. Within that short space of time, its staff have registered over 1,300 patients and treated over 20,000 walk in patients. These figures are a clear testament to just how important this service has become to local people. 

Following the MP’s building tour, Ian Reynolds NHS Wandsworth Chair explained:  “The most important factors of The Junction Health Centre are its convenient location, extended opening hours and services for both registered and unregistered patients. These benefits become even more apparent when added to the fact that it serves a local population with a high percentage of young mobile residents and migrants. Both groups are often not registered with a GP, or due to work commitments have difficulty getting to their own practice.“

Mike Parish, Chief Executive of Care UK who grew up not far from the new centre said:  “Care UK is extremely proud of this new state-of-the-art healthcare facility which brings a valuable new community-centered role to this otherwise redundant space.  We operate twelve similar GP led health services on behalf of the NHS and in every case we have seen how popular both the walk-in services and the extended opening hours are with patients.  We are thrilled that the centre has been so well received by the local community and look forward to providing high quality health care services to the people of Battersea.”

David Biggs, Director of Property, Network Rail said: “The Junction Health Centre is a successful partnership between Network Rail and Care UK.  This new health care facility commissioned by NHS Wandsworth will deliver first class services to local residents and commuters. Our investment has helped to transform and regenerate this neglected area at Clapham Junction by converting run-down units into a fresh and modern health centre.”