MP joins patients and staff to wish Gracefield Gardens Happy 10th birthday

MP Chuka Umunna joined patients and staff from Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Evelina London as they celebrated the 10th birthday of Gracefield Gardens Health Centre in Streatham on Friday 15 December.

The centre, which opened its doors to the public in 2007, has been dubbed a one-stop shop for a range of community services including health services such as district nurses, midwives, speech and language therapists and a GP surgery.

In 2016/17 staff at Gracefield Gardens carried out almost 42,000 blood tests and provided more than 1,300 ECG’s for people with heart problems.

Surbhi Maniyar, 32, from Streatham has used several services at Gracefield Gardens for the last four years including health visitors, midwives and the GP practice.

Surbhi, who has a daughter age 3 and a one month old son, says: “All of the staff at Gracefield Gardens have been so good and helpful. During my pregnancy with my son I was bleeding at eight weeks and again at 11 weeks.

“Juliet May, my midwife at the centre, was so supportive and told me to go straight to St Thomas’ Hospital where they did a scan. Afterwards she called me to check everything was fine. I could call her day or night and when my waters broke at 1.30am on a Sunday I did.

“My health visitor, Millie Quayson, is also the best. No matter how busy she is she finds time for me. She picked up that my daughter had an infection and when I was in hospital with my son she came to see me. I really love the staff at Gracefield Gardens.”

Sandra Woolcock, a podiatrist who has worked at the centre since it opened, says: “I really love working at Gracefield Gardens. It’s a modern, light and airy building.

“I get the opportunity to meet lots of patients from all over Lambeth and work with a variety of healthcare professionals at the site, all of us working together to provide good quality care to our patients.”

The centre also hosts other community activities including Chuka Umunna MP’s surgery, local Councillor surgeries and is a meeting place for groups such as Age UK.

Lambeth Council also have self-service terminals at the centre where people can access general Council information, pay bills, report faults and speak to council services.

Chuka Umunna MP said: “Everyone at Gracefield Gardens does a phenomenal job. I have seen first-hand the incredible work that takes place here as my family and I have all used the services at some stage.

“This centre is special and important to so many people in Streatham and beyond – here’s to the next 10 years!”

Angela Dawe, Joint Director for Operations and Strategic Development, Adult Local Services, said: “Gracefield Gardens is a fantastic example of how, by joining up health, council and voluntary sector services, we can make a real difference to the lives of people in Lambeth.

“Over the last 10 years it has become a focal point where people can access good quality care, services and community activities all under one roof. Congratulations to our staff, partner organisations and individuals who have helped to place Gracefield Gardens firmly at the heart of Streatham life.”