THE search is on for a new name for Yate Health Centre and the NHS is asking for the town’s help.

The £12million centre is due to open in the autumn and the race is on to rename it.

Penny Harris, chief executive of NHS South Gloucestershire, said: "The new centre is almost finished and we would like the residents of Yate to help us name it.

"The centre belongs to the community so it seems fitting that your suggestions help us choose a name.

"We already had so much support from the local community with this project. Local schools helped us to decorate the hoardings and the pupils have had mementoes of their school and wishes for the future buried in a time capsule beneath the reception area of the building."

To help people come up with a suitable name, the NHS is reminding patients of the history of the site.

The new health centre was once home to agricultural holdings which formed Thorn’s Farm in 1920.

The 1960 ordinance survey map clearly locates the old health centre within the identified Celestine mining area, called the Yate Spar fields which were used for refining sugar beet.

The former Yate Health Centre, which has been completely demolished to make way for the new facility, was first opened in 1970.

The new state-of-the-art health centre will house GP surgeries, an x-ray facility, treatment rooms, a minor injuries and a Boots pharmacy as well as family and children’s services including a SureStart centre and Connexions office.

Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: "As soon as the new health and children’s centre opens, it will quickly become an important part of the community and will play an essential role in improving the health and well-being of the surrounding population, so I think allowing local people to help decide the name is just what the doctor ordered.

"Bringing a wide range of services of together under one roof will make them much more accessible for local people and it’s really pleasing that this is almost a reality."

Send you suggestions, by August 31, to Ian Longden at NHS South Gloucestershire, 1 Monarch Court, Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire BS15 7FH or email: Ian.Longden@sglos-pct.nhs.uk