Health centre work set to start in June
Plans for Doune’s new £2.9m health centre remain on schedule and work on the facility is expected to start in June.
NHS Forth Valley this week said it plans to submit the full business case for the Springbank Road facility to the Scottish Government for consideration next month and, if approved, construction would begin the following month.
The announcement follows a letter to NHS Forth Valley chief executive Cathy Cowan from Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Dean Lockhart, asking for a guarantee that the business case will be finalised to meet May and June timetable dates.
The board had approved outline plans for the centre in January 2016 with an estimated completion date of spring 2017.
But last summer, when work had still to start on the facility, Scottish health secretary Shona Robison gave an assurance that the health centre would be completed by the end of 2018.
In his letter to Mrs Cowan this week Mr Lockhart also made a plea for more parking spaces and dementia-friendly facilities.
He signed off the letter: “It is absolutely essential that this important local amenity is available at the earliest opportunity and, whilst I welcome the progress that has thus far been made, the above issues have been highlighted to me as issues of interest.’
Mr Lockhart also said in a statement: “We now know that NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Government remain committed to seeing the project completed by the end of this year and positive progress on this timetable has to be welcomed.”
His Conservative colleague, Trossachs and Teith councillor Martin Earl, added: “The community have been waiting far too long to see this new centre up and running and we must ensure there is no more delay.”
Stirling SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said: “I have been in regular communication with NHS Forth Valley throughout this process and I am delighted to be assured that they remain on track for delivery by the end of this financial year, following the approval of the full business case.
“In addition to this I am pleased to receive assurances that the design phase has been conscious of disability access and needs as well as parking provision.
“These are important aspects of delivering a modern health centre, fit for a diverse community.”
NHS Forth Valley said in a statement this week: “We plan to submit the full business case for the new Doune Health Centre to the Scottish Government for consideration in May 2018 and, if approved, building work should start in June 2018 and be completed by the end of March 2019.
“The needs of people with dementia and disabilities have been taken into account throughout the design process.
“There will also be provision for parking on-site in line with the agreed planning permission, including a number of dedicated accessible bays.”
It is absolutely essential that this important local amenity is available at the earliest opportunity Dean Lockhart MSP