THE Government's deputy chief medical officer for England was today due to officially open a multi-million pound GP centre in St John's, Worcester.
Professor Aidan Halligan, who is also the director of clinical governance for the NHS, will be at the £2m, state-of-the-art Henwick Halt Medical Centre in Henwick Road, which is the first of 12 new doctors' surgeries opening across South Worcestershire, thanks to the help of an Evening News campaign.
Originally South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust planned a total of 13 new or improved health centres.
Five, including Henwick Halt, secured funding but then eight were thrown into jeopardy when, in February 2004, the Government announced it was changing funding rules for such schemes.
In March the Evening News called on readers to join the "Save Our Surgeries" campaign and after months of campaigning seven of the eight suspended schemes were finally given the green light.
The opening ceremony was due to take place from 12.45pm.
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