Closed health centre not fit for purpose, says councillor
A councillor says Cowie Health Centre is “not fit for purpose”after it was closed for urgent repairs.
The facility has been shut for a week after defects were found in the building there.
The surgery was initially to be closed on Friday and Monday for a building survey. However, following the survey the decision was taken to close the practice until Monday (January 27) to allow for repairs to be carried out on the rear wall of the building.
Whilst this is being done, planned maintenance work will take place in the rest of the building, including painting and repairs to the car park area.
A spokesperson for NHS Forth Valley said:“Cowie Health Centre will remain closed until Monday to allow essential repair work to be carried out on the building. During this time the Practice will make arrangements for patients to be seen at their other health centres in Fallin or Airth.”
Bannockburn ward SNP councillor, Alasdair MacPherson, says elected members were not made aware of the initial two day closure by the health board and says he will pursue an upgrade to health provision in the village. He said:“It’s very disappointing that the NHS did not inform elected members of the surgery closing as the closure has created enormous inconvenience for the local community.
“It’s quite clear that the Cowie surgery, along with the health care facilities in Plean and Fallin, are not fit for purpose in the long term. The NHS are working with council officials to review primary health care provision in Cowie, Fallin and Plean and I will be putting pressure on them to provide facilities that are fit for the 21st century.”
In response, a spokesperson for NHS Forth Valley said the repairs being carried out will ensure that the health centre can re-open on Monday and added:“We are continuing to explore potential options with Stirling Council around the long-term future of a number of healthcare premises in Forth
Valley, including Cowie Health Centre.”
Cowie Community Council has been made aware of the latest situation at the health centre and treasurer Gael Strachan said:“We have asked for a representative from NHS Forth Valley to attend our next meeting for a further explanation on how this has happened and going forward to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”