THE future of healthcare in Haringey was officially unveiled today by the man with the vision behind polyclinics.

Lord Ara Darzi, the architect of the polyclinic model which is gradually being rolled out across the country, officially opened Hornsey Central Neighbourhood Health Centre, in Park Lane.

The centre is the long-awaited replacement for Hornsey Central Hospital, which was run down and under used, and was eventually shut down in 2000.

Health bosses today insisted the new centre would be a shining example for other areas of the borough and across London, and will better suit the needs of patients in the west part of Haringey.

Richard Sumray, chairman of NHS Haringey, said: “This centre is a centre for the community, not just for dealing with illness, but for wellbeing and maintaining people health.

“This has the making of being an extraordinary centre, owned by the community who have to feel they are an integral part of it.

“We still have work to do in the east of the borough, but I make no apologies for the efforts to make sure the community had a centre they needed and deserved.”

Ruth Carnall CBE, chief executive of NHS London, attended the opening, and said the long term goal is for another three polyclinics to open in Haringey which will be tailored to the medical needs of residents.

She said: “I'd like to see patients saying 'why haven't we got a polyclinic like they have in Hornsey?'.

“I want the people here to work with us as an exemplary model of how to do it.”

The new centre, which opened in July, boasted two GP surgeries catering for more than 15,000 patients, a specialist dementia care centre, child speech therapy teams, a sexual health clinic, and a physiotherapy suite.

Maike Hayes, a speech and language therapist who has moved with her team from Crouch End Health Centre, said she is delighted with the new facilities available to her.

She said: “The new room is triple the space that we had before.

“The space enables us to see more children within our group and provide a better service.”

Lord Darzi, who unveiled a plaque at today's official opening, said polyclinics are especially important given the economic climate and the prospect of NHS funding cuts.

He said: “All the polyclinics are great examples through innovation of dealing with some of the challenges facing the healthcare system in the future.

“There is no single model that fits every bit of London, but all of these facilities, all of these services, are very much tailored to the needs of the local population.

“To get through the recession, we need innovation and quality. The London Framework for Action is much more relevant now for many working in the health service.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said: “It’s been a long journey and a long campaign together with local people, but today we are finally standing here in this brilliant new facility for the west of the borough.

“This will bring wonderful health services to the community for many years to come, and is what local residents need and deserve.”

The centre, which cost £12.75m raised through a public private partnership between NHS Haringey, the department of health, and private equity firm Elevate, will continue to add new services over the coming months until it reaches full capacity.