PATIENTS have welcomed the “fantastic” news their health centre is to re-open later this month, following a hard-fought campaign.

East Barnet Health Clinic was closed in June 2014 after asbestos was discovered in the building.

A £1m refurbishment was carried out, and the practice was due to re-open today (October 2).

But a dispute between doctors and NHS Property Services, over a new lease, left the future of the centre hanging in the balance.

However, the centre will now re-open on Monday, October 19, after a breakthrough was reached.

Helen Pryce, who started the campaign against continued closure, said: "I am so glad that the doctors can now get back to where they should be. The support of the people of New and East Barnet has been incredible.

“But what the whole campaign has also highlighted is the insidious privatisation of the NHS under this government. More campaigns are needed."

GPs had been temporarily working from the Vale Drive Clinic in High Barnet.

Writing on the East Barnet Health Centre – Come home Facebook page, Nicola Salisbury said: “Fantastic news. Well done and thanks so much for all the hard work.”

Paul Dempsey wrote: “Well done you lot me thinks the people power helped shift things on.”

The news has been welcomed by Labour councillors and Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, who both backed the campaign for answers about the health centre.

East Barnet councillor Philip Cohen said: "Common sense has prevailed at last and this is great news for the GPs, who simply want to do their job, and patients who will now get their local health centre back.

"This campaign has proved that people power is unstoppable when it is harnessed to a just cause, but also that NHS bodies must have the needs of patients at the forefront of their minds rather than being fixated with buildings and income generation."

Conservative MP Theresa Villiers said: "It is great news that East Barnet Health Centre will be reopening very soon. Along with local residents, I have been campaigning for many months for this to happen.

“Yesterday one of the last potential blockages was removed when NHS Property Services and the East Barnet GPs agreed key items of legal documentation relating the centre.”

Tony Griffiths, London’s Regional Director for NHS Property Services, said: “We recognise that this project has taken longer than expected and has been a complex and lengthy project due to the extent of the asbestos works which turned out to be far greater than first anticipated.

“We appreciate that major changes like this to any health centre are difficult and disruptive for doctors and patients. We would like to thank the practice and especially the patients for their support over the months that they have had to travel to Vale Drive.

“I am delighted that the scheme has been completed on track and I feel sure that everyone will share our pride at the transformation.”

Keys will be handed over to the GPs today (October 2).