He cut the ribbon at the Estuary View Medical Centre at Whitstable, which offers an extensive range of out-patient clinics from purpose-built premises, with flexible opening hours and ‘one-stop’ services.
Mr Brazier said: “This is a very important step forward, bringing state of the art health facilities closer to the public. This is an excellent example of different areas of the health service working together to provide high quality services."
The centre provides clinics and diagnostics, including MRI scans, to approximately 20,000 patients on the North Kent coast. It offers extended opening hours during the week and on Saturday mornings, giving patients increased flexibility when booking appointments.
The Trust has also invested in improved public transport links to the centre and continues to press for more prominent signage for bus services from Whitstable railway station.
Mary Tunbridge, Divisional Director, Clinical Support Services, said: “We are delighted to be officially opening these excellent new outpatient facilities. At Estuary View, many patients can receive their health care closer to home at a time convenient to them.
“To make this site even more accessible, we have also invested in improving bus links from neighbouring towns. There is now a direct hourly service to Estuary View from Whitstable, Tankerton, Herne Bay, and north Thanet, as well as an additional hourly service from Whitstable rail station.”
From 13 July, all Trust appointment letters for Estuary View will contain detailed information about how to access the centre by public transport, to ease the journey for patients and assist with planning.
Estuary View currently provides outpatient clinics in Paediatrics, Rheumatology, Endocrinology (diabetes), Gastroenterology, Health care of Older People, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Respiratory, Vascular, Trauma and Orthopaedics, with Gynaecology to follow.
Find out more about getting to Estuary View in our Find us section
Pictured: Julian Brazier MP (centre), with Chris Bown, Interim Chief Executive (left) and Sally Smith, Acting Chief Nurse and Director of Quality (right) open our new outpatients centre at Estuary View Medical Centre, Whitstable
