GRAHAM has started work on a new £18million Health and Social Care Centre for Barrhead.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Harry Burns, who was born in the town, was on site to see the bulldozers move in.
The joint development between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and East Renfrewshire Council will bring local health and social work services together under one roof for the first time.
Mr Burns said: “It is always good news when a new healthcare facility is being built, but I am particularly delighted by this project, having been born and brought up in Barrhead.
I am extremely pleased my fellow residents will benefit from this new, state-of-the-art facility.”
The new mixed-use centre will provide a wide range of local health and social care services including GP and dental practices, minor surgery, physiotherapy, footcare services, health visitor and district nursing teams, social work and home care services. It will also provide accommodation for older people’s daycare.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Chairman Andrew Robertson said: “The new centre will make it easier and quicker for local people to access the services they require, regardless of whether these are provided by the NHS or council staff. The development will undoubtedly be of huge benefit to the people of Barrhead and I am delighted to witness building work begin.”
Douglas Yates, Chairman of the East Renfrewshire Community Health and Care Partnership, said the centre would ensure good health care is accessible and available to all. He added: “The centre has a vital role to play in promoting healthy living, fighting health inequalities and helping build a strong community.”
The new Barrhead health and care centre is being built 150 metres from the current centre on the site of the former Carlibar primary school on Main Street.
Tony Buchanan, the council’s convener for economic development and regeneration, said: “This is proof positive that our drive to regenerate the town is fast becoming a bricks and mortar reality as the health centre is the first building to be built as part of that project.
“By investing in health, we are investing in the future of our residents who are the heart of all we are doing in Barrhead, and seeing work start on site will show that we really mean business as we put the regeneration jigsaw into place.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde funded £15m of the cost of the new centre with the remainder being provided by the Council.
Pictured above far left: Michael Graham, Executive Chairman, GRAHAM, attending the sod-cutting for the new Barrhead Health Centre.