Second happy occasion of the day – the official opening of Hornsey Central Community Health Centre!

Given it must be about ten years since the local LibDems joined local residents campaigning against the closure of the old hospital – and campaigned continually for a new health facility on this site – today was a very special and happy day.

The new centre is fantastic – and whilst there are still issues about transport to and from – this is the state of the art sort of community health facility that we so badly need in the west of the borough.

Health Link – which works to link the health services in the borough and the community and give a proper voice to local people in all of this – had asked local children to design posters for the opening about what the new health centre represented to them. The posters were fantastic – and I happily had the best job of the day giving out the prizes. The three winning designs will be exhibited at the new centre.

So – congratulations to everyone who over the years has worked, fought, campaigned and lobbied for this to happen. And a special word of thanks to Richard Sumray – chair of the local Primary Care Trust (PCT). Despite all the obstacles and years of frustration – Richard promised me a long time ago that he was absolutely committed to seeing through onto this old hospital site the new health facility we needed. I believed him then – and he has been true to his word – down the years.

Today – is just the beginning!