left to right, local councillors Cllr Harry Persaud and Cllr Sandra Bauer, Dr Prem Anand and John Austin MP outside the new centre

Erith and Thamesmead MP, John Austin joined local Thamesmead Councillors, Sandra Bauer and Harry Persaud on a visit to the new Lakeside Health Centre in Thamesmead on Friday (2nd May).  The Centre, which opened to the public recently, replaces the former Lakeside Health Centre which has served the people of Thamesmead since the sixties.

John Austin said: “When the original centre was built it was one of the most advanced health centres but after 40 years it has become too small to serve the new Thamesmead and the building itself which was pioneering in the sixties has looked old and tired of late.

“This new centre is part of the government’s massive investment in new health facilities and also part of the programme of delivering more services close to the patients in the community where they live.  Patients can now receive a wide range of services on their doorstep where before they had to travel long distances to hospitals in Sidcup, Woolwich or Dartford.”

John Austin and the two local councillors had a long discussion with the lead GP, Dr Prem Anand, and had a guided tour of the new facilities meeting reception and administration staff, doctors and nurses and visited the new surgical and dentistry facilities.

John Austin added: “I have been arguing for years for more investment in primary care and am pleased that this government is now delivering it.”