The official Opening Ceremony of the new £3.5million purpose-built one-stop Health Centre in Partington was performed on Friday 27th January, at 1pm by the Rt. Hon. Bev Hughes, MP for Trafford.

Prior to the opening Carmel Poole a Community Midwife who is the longest serving member of the NHS staff in Partington, (26 years to date) presented Bev Hughes with a hand-tied bouquet of purple tulips.

Delegates including Dr. Tim Riley, Chief Executive of Trafford North & South Primary Care Trusts (PCT's), Fay Selvan (outgoing) Chair of the PCT's, Richard Groome, Chief Executvie of MaST LIFTCo, John Moran, Director, Laing O'Rourke, and Dr. A. De-Weaver (GP) and Dr. G. Knowles (NHS Private Dentist) who both have practices based within the new health centre, took part in the opening ceremony. They each acknowledged the opening of the health centre as a real achievement and a fantastic opportunity for improved healthcare provision for the residents of Partington.

The new health centre (constructed by Laing O'Rourke) is the second health facility to be built in Greater Manchester by the Manchester, Salford and Trafford LIFT Company (MaST LIFTCo). 'LIFT' is a national scheme combining private companies and public services (such as the NHS) together, to invest in new health facilities in areas where investment in health has traditionally been poor.

Construction of the new centre was completed and handed over to the Primary Care Trust on 25th November 2005, and was ready for it's first patients on 10th December 2005.

The new 2 storey L-shaped building (which links directly to the adjoining Healthy Living Centre) has been specifically designed to complement the Health Living Centre, and will provide modern 21st century, high quality healthcare environment and facilities.

The new one-stop health centre offers local residents a combination of new health services: 2 GP Practices, a Dental Unit, together with Podiatry, and Speech and Language Therapy. The Dental Unit has purpose-built surgeries that include an X-ray room and its own dedicated reception and waiting room. There is also an independent Pharmacy on the site.

The Healthy Living Centre provides local residents with access to healthcare support facilities, advisory support and information points, to reduce social isolation and health inequalities in the area.

Dr Tim Riley, Chief Executive, Trafford North and South Primary Care Trusts welcomed the opening saying "The investment in Partington Health Centre is a great achievement for the Primary Care Trusts and for the local people of Partington. It will mean that we are now able to provide a full range of the very best health care services under on roof. This will make access to services easier for the people of Partington, and will provide a base for improving the health and well-being of the local population".

Richard Groome, Chief Executive, MaST LIFTCo. also recognised the importance of the completion of the Partington Health Centre. Richard said "Our first Health Centre for Trafford, and the first one-stop centre for MaST, this project really demonstrates what the LIFT initiative is all about and is a major contribution to the regeneration agenda".