|
Heathfield Centre opened
by Ben Parkinson and Caroline Flint
16 December 2009
Don Valley MP Caroline Flint joined paratrooper Ben
Parkinson to open Hatfield's new £4million Heathfield
Health Centre.
Ben, who was horrifically injured in Afghanistan three
years ago, told a large audience how important the NHS
was for him and how proud he was to open the centre.
Ben's speech came less than a year after he was told
me may never be able to speak or walk. He unveiled the
plaque to mark the official opening with Don Valley
MP Caroline Flint.
Said Caroline: "It was an honour to join Ben today.
He has made remarkable progress with the help of a dedicated
NHS team. The NHS is important to Ben's recovery and
this centre is important to the health and well bring
of many people living in the Hatfield area.
Built at a cost of £4 million, The Heathfield
Centre is home to a large family doctor practice, a
pharmacy and a range of community services, including
health visiting, district and school nursing.
Three local people - Katie Abeysekera, Laurel Dene and
Lisa Swainston - won a competition organised by NHS
Doncaster to name the building, drawing their inspiration
from the Roman name for Hatfield.
The centre was built as a replacement for the outdated
single-storey Hatfield Health Centre which is just a
short distance away. Said Caroline: "For those
of us who supported the building of modern health centres
like this across the Borough, including
Cllr Ken Knight and Cllr Beryl Harrison, this day could
not come soon enough.
"This centre is not just a symbol of the rebuilding
of the NHS, but it is a much more pleasant setting for
staff and patients."
Ben, a lance bombardier with 7 Para RHA, is now back
living at home in Doncaster and was made Yorkshire Man
of the Year in October 2009. His website www.benschallenge.com
reports that he is receiving outstanding support from
the NHS's Doncaster Neuro Outreach Team. On 11 April,
next year he is planning to canoe around Doncaster's
Lakeside as part of an event to raise money to pay for
equipment for the outreach team and Blesma, the British
Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association.
Doncaster NHS have recorded the event on YouTube at
the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/user/NHSDoncaster#p/u/0/ffYSs1mt3SI
http://www.youtube.com/user/NHSDoncaster#p/u/1/hNrWdiSlAD4
|
