New one-stop health centre holds opening celebration in Chadwell Heath
NELFT hosting the official opening of The Grove in Chadwell Heath - Credit: Archant
A new Chadwell Heath health centre celebrated its grand opening this week with plenty of cupcakes, face paint and balloon animals for its most important patients.
NELFT hosting the official opening of The Grove in Chadwell Heath - Credit: Archant
The Grove, formerly known as Grovelands, opened on May 10 and is a targeted children’s health facility bringing together specialists from all fields to serve some of Redbridge’s youngest patients in one central location.
“We are very confident that it will deliver a better quality service for children and young people and their parents for many years to come,” said Bob Edwards, Redbridge’s integrated care director.
Children can receive care for a litany of physical and mental health needs at the centre in Grove Road, including dietetics, occupational therapy and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
After years of integration, the facility began operation in early 2018. More than 26 rooms are used every day, and each one can be used for multiple services.
You may also want to watch:
Redbridge Councillor Elaine Norman attended the Grove’s opening for a tour and ribbon cutting ceremony.
“The Grove is something to celebrate as it brings together many different services in one place that will deliver a more holistically-based service for children,” Cllr Norman said.
Most Read
- 1 Cost of damage runs into thousands as Clayhall street clears up after floods
- 2 More than £5m worth of stolen vehicles recovered in first Redbridge Action Week
- 3 Engineering student wins place at Princeton University
- 4 Olympian-trained South Woodford sprinter, 8, breaks record in Manchester
- 5 Ilford charity opens B&M store in Newbury Park
- 6 Barkingside man arrested on suspicion of firearms offences
- 7 Redbridge clean-up underway after flash floods close A&E and damage homes
- 8 The Sikh Network on grieving in lockdown and death 'as a process of life'
- 9 Developments approved in Redbridge so far in 2021
- 10 'Darkest days of my life': Six-year-old diagnosed with rare condition suffers OCD, anxiety and depressive symptoms
Although the services offered at the Grove are only available through a GP referral, consolidating them into one building simplifies an appointment process that can require parents to spend their days juggling medical schedules and travelling between different buildings.
Individualised care can be difficult because many patients see more than one specialist, optometrist Kamalika Ivanov said.
The Grove allows her and other professionals to see their patients quicker because of how geographically close they all are.
For instance, a child with autism may deal with both hearing and visual impairments. Ms Ivanov and an audiologist could see the child in the same day and eliminate the need for a second trip.
The Grove is meant to make the medical setting feel more relaxed for children. Bright decorations, child-sized chairs and a floor-to-ceiling nature mural minimize any unease.
“It’s a nice environment,” Ms Ivanov said. “Other children might have to go into a hospital environment where they may have bad memories.”
