Saturday 30 March 2013

Demolition of Silsden Health Centre in Elliott Street and the building of a swish replacement on the same site coincide with a new era in the NHS. Controversial changes aimed at giving more power to GPs and reducing bureaucracy take effect in April 2013. Silsden Health Centre is one of 17 GP practices in the new Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which will buy  hospital treatment, community health services and mental-health care for local people. The CCG, which has a budget for 2013/14 of £186 million, covers a population of 155,781. The area is said to have a high incidence of heart disease and high levels of obesity.

During the Silsden redevelopment, services are being provided in temporary accommodation occupying most of the car park. The Health Centre (pictured top) was opened in 1980 by the late John Stanley Bell, who was chairman of Airedale Health Authority, headmaster of Hothfield Junior School and a former Keighley Borough Council alderman. Demolition is pictured above nearing completion at the end of March 2013. The temporary surgery and offices are pictured below being lifted into place by crane in January.