A £2m health centre has been unveiled in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Government has confirmed. The facility is the fourth project to be completed by hub South West Scotland in the last two months.

The primary care centre, located in Dalbeattie, has been funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by hub South West Scotland Limited, in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust and NHS Dumfries and Galloway. The centre will be named Craignair Health Centre and will consist of 11 clinical rooms, staff and administration facilities, and associated car parking. Health services at the facility will include podiatry, orthoptics, physiotherapy, health visitors and district nurses, midwifery and visiting specialists.

A second primary care centre, nearby at Dunscore, has also recently been completed by hub South West. This is in addition to a £2.3m medical centre in Ardrossan and the £1.5m Irvine Annickbank Office Development. A number of projects on the books are also currently undergoing construction work.

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Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson, said: "The new Dalbeattie Primary Care Centre is an excellent facility that will be an asset to the NHS and serve the local community well for decades to come. Along with the similar centres at Ardrossan and Dunscore this represents a significant Scottish Government investment in the south west of Scotland.

"These new buildings are not just good news for the patients and staff of the NHS. Investment on this scale has a tremendously positive effect on the local economy – creating jobs and apprenticeships and helping local businesses."

Dr Sebastian Pflanz, of Dalbeattie Primary Health Care team, added: "The Dalbeattie Primary Health Care team is very excited about the forthcoming move to the new Craignair Health Centre. The team takes an holistic approach to health care, with a particular emphasis on involving local partners in working towards improving the health and wellbeing of the whole community.

"The new Health Centre will offer a focal point for this work, combining modern Primary Care facilities with design features encouraging the local population to lead full and healthy lives."

Michael McBrearty, General Manager of hub South West Scotland Limited, commented: "This project will represent our fourth successful project handover and further demonstrates the delivery of our vision to build better local services with our participants across the South West region of Scotland.

"This project successfully delivered on our local economic and community benefits targets where in excess of 70 training workshops and seminars were provided for local small and medium-sized enterprises along with the provision of apprentice employment. Additionally over 70% of the works packages placed were delivered by companies located within the South West territory."

(JP/MH)