Work to begin on Airdrie’s £27 million health centre

Feb 3 2010 by Judith Tonner, Airdrie & Coatbridge

THIS is an artist’s impression of Airdrie’s new £27 million health centre in the heart of the town.

Work is expected to begin this month after Scottish Government approval and capital funding were confirmed, with the facility set to open in two years’ time.

The centre, serving 50,000 patients, will be built on the current eyesore site of the former Somerfield supermarket and six-storey office block, which are to be demolished.

It will bring together nine GP surgeries, replacing the existing Airdrie health centre and Adam Avenue clinics, in one of the largest centres of its kind in Scotland.

The site on the corner of Graham Street and Gartlea Road will also house primary care services including dentistry, paediatrics, physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics, plus shops, a pharmacy and social work offices.

An upper deck is also to be added to the existing public car park at Hallcraig Street to accommodate the new influx of patients, staff and other visitors to the development.

Ian Ross, NHS Lanarkshire’s director of performance and planning, said: “This is fantastic news for the people of Airdrie.

“The new health centre will create a first-class environment for patient care that will significantly improve how we deliver community health services in the area.

“It will allow us to provide a range of enhanced services in high-quality, purpose-built surroundings, and these modern facilities will give us the opportunity to develop and improve services in ways not currently possible.”

Airdrie and Shotts MSP Karen Whitefield welcomed both the new facility and the boost it will provide for the town centre as a whole; while health secretary Nicola Sturgeon noted that the multi-million-pound project would also benefit recession-hit sectors.

Ms Whitefield said: “I am delighted that Airdrie will finally be getting its new health centre – I am glad the current Government has remained true to what was a commitment given by the previous Scottish Executive.

“Not only will it provide a high-quality, integrated facility for local people, but the demolition of the existing building and construction of the new will help in the regeneration of the town centre.

“For too long, the old social security building has been an eyesore in Airdrie, and bringing the new health centre here will improve the look of the town and bring much-needed footfall for local businesses.”

Giving the project the go-ahead, Ms Sturgeon said: “Airdrie community health centre is a great example of how we envisage care being delivered in the future.

“It will bring together, under one roof, a broad range of essential services and make joined-up treatment easier to deliver in a prime town-centre location which is convenient for patients.

“This kind of investment provides a significant boost to hard-hit industries such as construction and shows how NHS Scotland is playing its part in Scotland’s economic recovery.”

Alex Neil, the Central Scotland MSP, echoed both politicians’ sentiments, saying: “I am confident that the new health centre will breathe new life into Airdrie.

“This first-class facility will improve the health care on offer to residents and draw people back into the town centre.

“Along with safeguarding A&E at Monklands Hospital, this is another healthcare promise for Airdrie kept by the SNP.

“I know there is some concern that the new health centre will increase congestion in the town centre, so I hope North Lanarkshire Council does all it can to alleviate these concerns.”