Presidential tour of government offices-English River health centre serves 17,000 people |14 May 2005

The tour of the English River health centre was the first outside Victoria Hospital after the President of the Republic began paying regular visits to the national health facilities.

Victoria Hospital and community health centres are at the top of the list of places the President has been visiting from the beginning of the year after Mr Michel expressed his determination in his 2005 Budget Speech to bring changes within the health services.

The English River health centre which began operating in 1998 is a new regional facility which serves 17,000 people in the five surrounding districts.

There are some 70 staff members, who normally include nine doctors, at the health centre. It offers primary health care services such as dental care and physiotherapy.

Being new, the health centre is in fairly good condition. But staff made some minor suggestions such as a snack shop facility for their own use and additional counters at the pharmacy dispensing section to better serve patients.

The President toured the English River health centre a day after Nurses Day. Mr Michel wished the English River nurses and other staff well and all the best.

Mr Michel’s tour of government offices, which he began soon after becoming President in April last year, is also to give the public servants his support and encouragement for the work they are doing to deliver services to the population.