THE public has chosen the name of the new centre being built on the site of a former school in Barrow.

More than 750 people submitted their choice of name for the centre after a poll was launched by the NHS Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group.

The CCG gave the public, patients and staff three options to choose from:

• Alfred Barrow Health Centre

• Alfred Barrow Primary Care Centre

•Alfred Barrow Community Health and Care Hub

The first option was picked.

Dr Geoff Jolliffe, GP from Risedale Surgery in Barrow and NHS Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group Clinical Chair said: “I am delighted that so many members of the public got involved and took part in the poll for the naming of the new centre.

“The Alfred Barrow School is well known to the local people of Barrow so keeping Alfred Barrow in the name of the centre is important to the history of the area.

“Our patients are our priority and it was fantastic that they could be a part of this exciting stage of the project.”

A poll was shared on social media and voting boxes were put in the waiting rooms of Abbey Road Surgery, Atkinson Health Centre and Risedale Surgery – the three surgeries moving into the health centre.

As well as bringing together the primary and community health services provided by the three GP surgeries listed above, the new health centre will also include services by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and house facilities for the North West Ambulance Service and BAE Systems.

Work on the new centre is due to complete in spring 2019. It will be a modern facility, housing the GP surgeries and community health services in one building whilst preserving the oldest part of the Victorian Alfred Barrow School building.

Dr Arun Thimmiah, GP from Abbey Road Surgery in Barrow said: “It is a dream come true for primary care services in Barrow and a much-deserved boost."