Mr McGimpsey cut the first sod at a £16million Health and Care Centre which will serve Portadown and the surrounding area.
The Minister said: “I am pleased to mark this occasion in the development of the Portadown Health and Care Centre.
“This is the fifth Health and Care Centre to be constructed as part of my Department’s Primary and Community Care Investment Programme, which will deliver over 40 Health and Care Centres throughout Northern Ireland.
“Health and Care Centres adopt a one-stop-shop person-centred approach, and will meet the needs of individual families in their local communities.
“They will be locally accessible and provide integrated services including treatment, care and information; the development of chronic disease management programmes; and some diagnostic services currently provided in acute care.”
Notes to Editors:
- The new Portadown Health and Care Centre will be built on the site adjacent to the existing health centre at Tavanagh Avenue, and will cost in the region of £16million.
- The development of this 6,000m2, three-storey state-of-the-art centre will be over three times the size of the current health centre.
- All current services provided at the existing health centre, including the 22 GPs, will transfer to the new facility, plus additional services. These additional services include a suite of rooms which will be occupied by various clinics and visiting consultants, on a sessional basis, to avoid patient visits to hospital.
- The new centre will also provide a minor surgery suite to avoid referral to hospital for conditions which GPs and other health professionals can deal with on site. There will also be a pharmacy, two dental suites, a rehabilitation suite, facilities for audiology services, a café and a Citizens Advice Bureau to provide more accessible advice and support to people using the centre.
- Construction will take approximately 18 months to complete.
- The four Health and Care Centres constructed are: The Arches Health and Care Centre; Bradbury Health and Care Centre; Carlisle Health and Care Centre; and Kilkeel Health and Care Centre.
- Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or 07825 141103. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440, and your call will be returned.
