A COMMUNITY health centre has opened at West Oxford Community Centre.

The Oxford Community Health Hub, off Botley Road, launched in three rooms of the centre on Saturday.

The aim is for affordable alternative treatments to be offered to residents.

Eight practitioners offer acupuncture, chiropractic, cognative behavioural therapy, counselling, types of massage, herbal medicines, naturopathy, nutrition and psychotherapy.

The venture is the brainchild of acupuncturist Rebecca Minton, from Cowley.

The 32-year-old thought up the project while working in America in 2010.

She said: “Over the past few months I’ve been working on bringing a team of practitioners together who are passionate about providing health and wellbeing treatments at prices many people in their community can afford.

“I’ve been really inspired by how so many people have been interested in working with us. We really feel that what we are bringing to Oxford is much needed.”

She estimated a typical acupuncture session would cost £45 to £50, but most treatments at the clinic will cost around £30.

Manager of West Oxford Community Centre Keith Birnie said: “It is great we have finally got to that point that it is getting started.

“Hopefully it will be a great benefit to residents.

“We are really pleased to be hosting the hub, it is a great opportunity for people to have affordable alternative healthcare.”

A launch party on Saturday from 11am until 3pm and taster clinic sessions on Sunday from 10am until 4pm marked the health centre’s opening.

Open-door clinic sessions run on the first Saturday and third Wednesday of every month.

The hub is based in the old GP surgery which closed in May 2012.

Building work began last year to turn the four GP rooms into a waiting room, a large treatment room and a small treatment room.

  • For more information about the new centre, go to healthhuboxford.co.uk