New health centre to open doors within weeks

A "first of its kind" health centre in West Sussex is expected to be open to patients within weeks.

Worthing Integrated Care Centre (WICC), which has been built on the site of a former car park in Stoke Abbott Road, was funded by the town's borough council.

As well as offering GP, pharmacy, dentistry and mental health services in a central location, medical teams will be able to carry out some small-scale operations.

The council said the development will "transform healthcare in the heart of the borough".

The pharmacy is due to open early in January, while dental services, provided by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, will transfer to the site by the end of next month.

Worthing Medical Group and mental health services are also due to move to the new building early in the new year.

A neighbouring multi-storey pay-and-display car park opened to the public on Wednesday.

Rita Garner, the council's cabinet member for regeneration, said the council was "determined that everyone in Worthing should be able to access good healthcare quickly and easily", with "a wide range of NHS services under one roof".

Dr James Ramsey, chief medical officer at NHS Sussex, said he was excited about "providing more care closer to home for local people".

Sussex Health & Care also welcomed the new facility: "When the WICC is fully operational, it will be the first centre of its kind in Sussex, providing a range of NHS services on one site and allowing the community to receive better healthcare."

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