ONE of the first of a new brand of “fantastic” health centres was launched in Pinner last week.

The Pinn Medical Centre, in Love Lane, opens from 8am to 8pm, with a walk-in clinic and advanced services including an x-ray and ultrasound equipment.

The facility is not one of the Government's flagship polyclinics but is the borough's first “GP led” health centre, operating in a similar way and linking in with smaller practices nearby.

Plans to upgrade the existing surgery to meet the needs of a swelling patient base date back years and the project was driven by the GPs themselves.

Dr Sarah Crowther, chief executive of NHS Harrow, said: “It is a pioneering project that has found its perfect setting in a clean, spacious, modern, comfortable and accessible building.

“These are the qualities that our patients have told us they want in local healthcare and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.

“We’re taking the NHS in a new direction, which, now more than ever, is about what patients want and how they can get involved in making choices about their own care, backed by the expertise of and relationships with superb clinicians.”

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, said: “These new health clinics, run by local GPs, are already proving a big hit in Harrow.

“If you’re worried about your health you can just turn up. It’s a fantastic new service.”

A launch night was held for the clinic on Wednesday.