HEALTH Minister Dan Poulter officially launched the new £4million state-of-the-art Colne Health Centre yesterday.

The Craddock Road centre is owned and managed by NHS Property Services and opened its doors to patients in May, with services from three GP practices moving over from the former site in Market Street.

Mr Poulter, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, was joined at the official launch by Kathryn Berry from NHS Property Services, Dr Phil Huxley from East Lancashire CCG, Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson and Coun Azhar Ali, chair of Lancashire’s Health and Wellbeing Board, to celebrate the opening of the Craddock Road facility.

Kathryn Berry, regional director (North) for NHS Property Services, said: “It’s so good to see the new health centre open for patients, visitors and staff.

“This will help the delivery of innovative new services in Colne and it is a huge credit to everyone who has been involved in its planning.

“I’d like to thank Dan Poulter for taking time to visit the centre and helping us to officially mark the opening of Colne Health Centre, which I’m sure will become a valuable asset to the local community.

“The scheme blends functionality with flexibility, giving the practices and other services attractive and fit for purpose facilities in which they can grow further.

“We are really pleased with the finished result and would like to thank everyone who has been part of this exciting new development.” The centre offers a full complement of primary medical community services including podiatry, sexual health and speech and lang-uage.