Health

A health centre in Kenton serving 30,000 patients is being closed immediately by medical bosses because of spiralling maintainence costs.

Harrow Primary Care Trust's board decided on October 21 to shut the complex once it relocated the existing services over a period of six to eight weeks.

The clinic serves people in the wards of Kenton East, Kenton West and Queensbury, a population described by the trust as having a "significant need" and "some of the lowest life expectancies in Harrow".

This means patients will have to go to nearby GP practices and other health centres for phlebotomy, podiatry, mental health, physiotherapy, health visitors, and infection control services, and for mother and baby clinics, and child health clinics.

Kenmore Clinic is a single storey 1950s building and the trust's board decided to close it after being told an estimated extra £35,000 to £40,000 would have be invested this financial year alone to address the immediate upkeep concerns of the "poor infrastructure condition".

In addition, an independent health and safety review found problems with disabled access, the presence of asbestos, fire safety compliance, heating and hot water failure, and substandard lighting.

The report found that within five to 10 years, a complete renovation of the building was needed in any case, at a cost of between £3m and £4m.

The trust will launch a public consultation on redeveloping the site, with the details to be finalised at a board meeting in December.

An inquest in to the death of a woman who suffered massive brain damage when nurses dislodged vital breathing apparatus got underway this morning.

Velina Spence, 46, was being rolled by staff while the sheets of her bed were being changed in Northwick Park Hospital's Intensive Care Unit on September 10, last year.

A heart charity is looking for volunteers to help with collecting donations in the Harrow area.

By Elaine Okyere

Patients are being turned away from a doctors' surgery in Harrow after a row between health chiefs and the owner.