There is more than a new look at Premier Health and Wellness Centre, in Hamilton.

Based at the premises formerly used by the late Niall Aiten, it is owned and operated by Stanley James.

During the past year the practice has undergone a transformation with a number of improvements and expanded services.

In addition, it is offering endocrinology with specialist diabetes care and wellness, having linked up with a well-known specialist from Britain.

It has taken about a year to put everything in place at Premier Health and Wellness, which is on King Street. Dr James, who previously operated out of North Shore Medical, is delighted with the outcome.

“We renovated considerably. We have added laboratory services and we are running lifestyle wellness programmes,” he said, adding that friendly staff, easier parking and proximity to the centre of Hamilton are further benefits of the new location.

Dr James, who is trained in general internal medicine and cardiovascular-related diseases, also spoke highly of another significant change — the involvement of a British-based endocrinologist David Cavan, who specialises in diabetes care and general endocrinology.

Dr Cavan is the author of the books Reverse Your Diabetes: the step by step plan to take control of type 2 diabetes, and Reverse Your Diabetes Diet, and was a consultant physician at the Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, one of the leading public health diabetes centres in Britain.

He spent three years based in Brussels as director of policy and programmes at the International Diabetes Federation, and it there that he met Debbie Jones, a diabetes nurse educator and co-founder of the Bermuda Diabetes Association.

He accepted an invitation to visit Bermuda and speak about the principles of reversing type 2 diabetes that were featured in his first book.

Dr James met him after the presentation, and the physicians stayed in contact. This led to Dr Cavan, who works as an independent consultant and in clinical practice in London, accepting the opportunity to provide specialist medical services to Premier Health and Wellness Centre.

A year-long programme to guide patients on the path to reversing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes is about to begin. It starts with a six-week schedule, with follow-up sessions during the year.

Dr James is pleased to have Dr Cavan’s expertise available to patients. Both physicians have core beliefs centred on the benefits that can be gained by patients through lifestyle changes.

With diabetes a noted health issue on the island, Dr James views having an expert in the field of Dr Cavan’s standing as a consultant as an asset for the practice.

Premier Health and Wellness Centre, which accepts walk-in patients, also offers general physicals and services relating to managing chronic disease, and therapeutic areas of clinical expertise.

The practice has a website at http://premierhealthbermuda.com/