Secretary of State for Health visits Bromley by Bow Centre
10 October 2008
The Secretary of State for Health, the Right Honourable Alan Johnson MP, visited the Bromley by Bow Centre on Thursday 2 October.
As well as seeing the Health Centre for himself, he was keen to find out how the Health Centre integrated with the other services at the Bromley by Bow Centre, such as the Children’s Centre, Learning Programme and advice services. In a visit organised jointly by Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust and the Bromley by Bow Centre, Mr Johnson took the opportunity to meet and chat with staff to find out how they serve the community.
Yvonne Coughlin, a practice nurse at the Health Centre, chatted about Planet Asthma, an innovative project that got children involved in art activities to better understand asthma and how to treat it.
Luckey Begum, a Health Trainer, explained how she and her colleagues were helping to get the message about healthier lifestyles, including help for people who want to give up smoking, out into the community.
Duncan Victorin and the team from Inside Out explained how they offer affordable and accessible complementary health treatments to the local community.
Alan Johnson also met Lilu Ahmed from the Bromley by Bow Children’s Centre, and Sue Nolan and Sue Agyakwa from the Learning Programme. Both these services work closely with the Health Centre, helping to address the broader needs of the community.
Rob Trimble, Chief Executive of the Bromley by Bow Centre, said: "It was great to welcome Alan Johnson to the Centre this morning. Bromley by Bow is a community that used to lack the quality services that help support thriving communities. By offering the broadest possible range of services, right on people’s doorstep, we are helping people to transform their lives."
Alwen Williams, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust said: "Increasingly, Tower Hamlets is being recognised as a place that is serious about helping people to improve their health. The work at Bromley by Bow is a great example of the shape this work is taking. It is community organisations, the NHS, local authority and others working together with the community in new and innovative ways."
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For more information, contact James Atkinson on 020 8709 9756 or jamesa@bbbc.org.uk
