The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, formally opened the new operating theatre, education suite and extended Co-operative pharmacy at Wilmslow Health Centre this afternoon.
Building work has been taking place at the health centre for the past year, and only yesterday the last contractor left the surgery which has doubled the size of its pharmacy and built a new education suite for trainee doctors. In addition the new operating theatre will enable consultant surgeons to perform surgical procedures safely in a community setting.
George Osborne, who is a patient at the health centre, said "I congratulate everyone who has been involved in the project which is visionary."
Coronation Street actor William Roache, another patient, added "Well done, we look forward to even better treatment, if that is possible."
Dr Ahmed, a partner at Wilmslow Health Centre said, "Wilmslow Health Centre has for the past three years provided many services which are traditionally only delivered in hospitals.
"For instance, instead of going to hospital for a scan, patients from all over Cheshire have been able to attend scans on evenings and Saturday mornings here in the community and have waited no longer than 10 days from referral.
"We hope that our new operating theatre will improve access to surgical treatments for patients all over the North West by offering a low waiting time, consultant delivered service."
