An innovative new £10 million Health and Care Centre was officially opened today by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Shona Robison.
The new modern, state-of-the-art Possilpark Health and Care Centre provides a base for a range of services including: four GP Practices, general dental practitioner services, physiotherapy, podiatry, community dental services, community consulting rooms, district nursing, health visitors, social work, addiction services and health improvement teams offering a range of services from smoking cessation support to information on health screening.
It opened its doors to patients last year but was today visited by the Cabinet Secretary who officially opened it while meeting staff and patients as she toured the new centre.
Ms Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing said: “This is a fantastic new facility which brings together a number of essential NHS and local council services under one roof.
“This £10 million project has transformed healthcare facilities in the local area and Possilpark Health and Care Centre is a facility that the local community can rightly be proud of. I have seen today how patients, staff and visitors all enjoy the bright and comfortable surroundings.
“The Scottish Government is investing over £2 billion in Scotland’s health infrastructure over four years, to 2015-16, with this development being one of many that demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to continually improving health services.”
Andrew Robertson, Chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde added: “I am delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to the new health and care centre.
“This is an outstanding local initiative. We are extremely pleased that this new health and care centre is complete and that the people of Possilpark now have a wonderful modern facility
“The new centre is part of Phase 1 of a regeneration process underway for the area which when complete will transform the area’s physical environment and seek to improve health and healthcare facilities.
“The purpose of this project has always been to enable and facilitate fundamental change, not simply the replacement of the previous health centre building and services. Rather, the development has provided an opportunity to tackle health inequalities by improving the delivery of services – shaping them around the needs of patients through the development of partnerships and co-operation between patients, their carers and families, NHS staff and all partner agencies.”
Additionally, exciting new plans are nearing completion to develop the vacant land behind the new Possilpark Health and Care Centre and the Business Centre on Saracen Street.
A partnership between NHSGGC the Green Exercise Partnership; Jobs and Business Glasgow; and voluntary sector organisations, the Concrete Garden and Friends of Possil Green space has transformed this 0.8 hectare site.
Possilpark has high levels of vacant and derelict land and this particular site behind the new health centre and Business Centre has been derelict for a number of decades. These plans include a community growing space, a wild meadow and an urban gym wall (“Stoney Gym”).
Further greening of the health centre site includes street trees, a growing wall, and extensive planting. A community gardener has helped nurture local people, care and community groups to start growing a range of fruit and vegetables in the community growing space and promote community cohesion, physical activity and healthy eating in the thirty available plots. Opportunities for volunteering and training will also be part of a wider programme to promote employability.
The overall aim is to develop opportunities to enhance both the external and internal aspects of the campus to increase wellbeing, improve peoples’ experience of visiting the centre and to engender a sense of community ownership of the building and its environment.
David Williams, Chief Officer Designate, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The new Possilpark Health and Care Centre is a great example of what can be achieved through the joint efforts of the council and our colleagues in the health service.
“It is entirely fitting that this fantastic new facility will open officially on the day the legislation that integrates health and social care in Scotland comes into effect.
“We have been working intensively with our health colleagues to build a health and social care partnership for Glasgow that will help to improve the lives of people all across the city.
“Our formal partnership is still in its early stages, but as the new Possilpark centre clearly shows we have a shared commitment to delivering health and care services of the highest standard for Glasgow.”
For more information contact the press office, tel: 0141 201 4429 or email: press.office@ggc.scot.nhs.uk