A major milestone in the construction of the new £10 million Possilpark Primary and Community Health Centre took place recently when Health Secretary Alex Neill cut the first sod at a special ceremony.

The new modern, state-of-the-art health and care centre for the people of Possilpark will incorporate four GP Practices, general dental practitioner services, physiotherapy, podiatry, community dental services, community consulting rooms, district nursing, health visitors, social work and health improvement teams offering smoking cessation support and sexual health services.

There will also be an opportunity for other services to utilise the community consulting rooms offering local people access to additional services including primary care mental health services and money advice.

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "Having the right facilities in the right place is important to people across Scotland and that is why we are determined to ensure both staff and patients the length and breadth of the country can work and be treated in the best possible surroundings.

"I was delighted to cut the turf on the new Possilpark Health Centre, which is a fantastic example of how the local community will benefit from a new purpose-built facility, providing high quality healthcare close to home.

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"Continued investment in health building projects clearly sets out the strength of our commitment to the NHS in Scotland, and will mean that we can provide more sustainable, high quality and continually improving health care services close to home."

The Health Centre is part of phase one of a new regeneration process underway for the area, and at the heart of a new civic centre being created which will transform the area’s physical environment and improve health and healthcare facilities.

Speaking at the ceremony NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chairman Andrew Robertson said: "The building of this new health centre on this derelict site in the heart of Possilpark is a tangible example of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s commitment to tackling health inequalities. Today is not a time to dwell on the negative – but it is well documented that Possilpark suffers some of the worst social and health problems of any area in Glasgow, Scotland – or even Europe. It is therefore vital that we target resource where it is most needed – and hopefully where it can make a real difference to people’s lives.

"Our hope is that this new health centre is just the beginning of a healthier future for the people of Possilpark."

Alex Mackenzie, North West Sector Director, Glasgow City Community Health Partnership (CHP), added: "It has always been important to Glasgow CHP that the investment in a new health centre should do much more than merely provide a base for NHS services.

"We want the new health centre to make a real contribution to the regeneration of the whole Possilpark area. Building the centre alongside the new business development that is being taken forward by Glasgow Regeneration Agency in partnership with Glasgow North Housing Association, means that we are able to maximise the impact of our collective investment – and provide a real focus for a positive future."

Divisional Director of Interserve Construction Brian Reid, which is responsible for the design and build of the new Possilpark Health Centre, said: "Interserve are delighted to be associated with the Possilpark Project. Whilst the building itself is about bricks and mortar it’s much more than that. It is vitally important to us that the Health Centre makes a real difference to the community. Our team are committed to providing a great design and a great building."

(GK)