The first sod was cut today at the new £20 million Greenock Health and Care Centre by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman.
The £20m project is due to complete by September 2020 and is being delivered as a partnership between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Inverclyde HSCP, Inverclyde Council, Hub West Scotland and the local community.
The project represents much more than the modernisation of the existing facilities. As well as delivering a transformational improvement to the environment in which care is delivered, the new facility offers an opportunity to reshape services from a patient and service user’s perspective to provide care that is more integrated, accessible and efficient, as well as contributing to the wider goals of community regeneration and addressing health inequalities.
The new centre will provide a wide range of services for the benefit of the community it serves. This includes the transfer of four General Practices, pharmacy, primary care and HSCP services from the current health centre, as well as the introduction of other services, including specialist children’s services, speech and language therapy and the care at home service.
Jeane Freeman, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport said: “This new health centre for Greenock will be a perfect example of how we are transforming primary care. By expanding multi-disciplinary teams, we can allow GPs to focus their skills where they can add most value, meaning patients can be seen at the right time by the right person.”
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Chair of Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board, said: This is an important step in the further integration of services.
“The centre will provide a hub for the community with services coming together in one building and it is an important part of the regeneration of Broomhill and the centre of Greenock.”
Arts and environmental planning is also well underway to develop opportunities to enhance the external and internal aspects of the new facility, aimed at creating an environment that engages, promotes well-being and improves people’s overall experience.
Iain Marley, Chief Executive, hub West Scotland, added: “It’s marvellous that the project has reached this stage and stakeholders can see the new facility taking shape.
“Once completed next Autumn, the new centre will enhance the quality of services being provided to local communities for generations to come but it’s important to recognise that the benefits to the community have already begun – this is in the form of opportunities for local businesses, new jobs and apprenticeships, support for local initiatives and collaborations with education partners including local schools and West College.
“Hub West places great emphasis on ensuring that Communities derive maximum benefit from infrastructure investment and we are grateful to BAM and other supply chain members for responding so positively to this challenge.”