New health centre plans put on hold

Mar 26 2008 By Chris Black, Wishaw Press

PLANS for Wishaw’s new health centre look set to delayed by more than five years when NHS Lanarkshire chiefs meet today (Wednesday).

The health board’s shake-up of health care provision in Lanarkshire was thrown into disarray last summer following the Scottish Government’s decision to save Monklands A&E from closure.

And it looks like the people of Wishaw could become one of the first casualties of the subsequent spending review as the town’s proposed health centre will not open for at least five years.

NHS Lanarkshire’s board will convene today to decide their Financial Investment Programme for 2008 to 2013 and the recommendation before them is that the new Wishaw Health Centre is put on hold.

Other major projects like a new £27 million health centre for Airdrie and a £12 million dental centre in Coatbridge are expected to get the green light.

But instead of being replaced by a new facility, Wishaw’s aging health centre, originally opened in 1976, will have to make do with a cosmetic makeover.

A total of £982,000 will be spent overhauling the centre during the next two years. A new roof and replacement windows, as well as an improved car park, are due to be in place by the end of this year with refurbishment of the toilets and waiting rooms planned for 2009.

Part of the recommendation before NHS Lanarkshire’s board members is that a plan for a new Wishaw health centre will be in place within three years.

However, even if that happens it will be a minimum of five years before it is open, and it could be even longer.

Local Labour councilor, John Pentland, was outraged by the let-down and sees it as another broken promise.

He said: “This is extremely disappointing news and will come as a right kick in the teeth for the people of Wishaw and the surrounding area. There can be no doubt that a new health centre is badly needed in Wishaw to meet increasing demand for such a centre.

“NHS Lanarkshire had identified this and we were previously given a provisional opening date of 2010 for the new centre. But they have now gone back on that and I have no doubt that this decision has been indirectly governed by the SNP government.

“Their decision to keep Monklands A&E open has dictated that other NHS services and planned projects in Lanarkshire have had to suffer as a result of financial constraints.

“It’s sad because the new health centre would have gone a long way to supporting the ongoing regeneration of Wishaw.

“While big gestures like scrapping bridge tolls and saving A&E wards are all very well and good, reality has to set in for this government some time soon.

“If you ask the people of Wishaw if they’d rather save a pound from crossing the Forth Road Bridge or put that pound towards a new health centre I know what they will say.”

NHS bosses have stressed that plans for the new health centre are merely delayed and have not been scrapped altogether.

The board have recommended that the shelved project be kept under review and improvements made to the existing centre when resources permit.

While NHS Lanarkshire hope to have plans in place within the next three years detailing the new health centre, they have conceded that no work will begin until after 2013.

Labour MSP for Wishaw Jack McConnell joined in the condemnation of the decision.

The former First Minister said: “I am angry and deeply disappointed at the delay to build a new health centre in Wishaw but I don’t blame NHS Lanarkshire for this.

“The blame rests with the SNP who have let our local area down by failing to ensure that NHS Lanarkshire could deliver on its priorities for investment.”

It is not all doom and gloom though as several other projects in the area are set to benefit under the investment programme.

Harthill Health Centre will receive £189,000 for general refurbishment, £35,000 will be spent redecorating and replacing the heating boiler at Newmains and Shotts Health Centre is in line for a £209,000 renovation.

Motherwell is set to be the biggest winner under the plans as £784,000 has been earmarked by health officials for a comprehensive refurbishment of the interior and exterior of the town’s health centre.