Local people across Stirling are invited to an information evening to find out more about a new Care Village which would bring together a wide range of health, social care and GP services in the grounds of Stirling Community Hospital.

The event, which takes place at 6.30pm – 8.30pm on Wednesday 1^st April 2015 in the Albert Halls, Stirling, will provide an update on the design proposals, the phasing of the construction, how the site would operate and car parking management.  Staff from the different organisations involved will also be on hand to answer questions.

The proposals would transform the way local health and social care services are delivered to older people by creating a new ‘care hub’, which would bring together a range of care home services currently provided by Stirling Council along with inpatient and specialist community health services provided by NHS Forth Valley. These include services for older people who require additional short-term care, an assessment or rehabilitation following an illness, an operation or an acute hospital admission.  Services would be delivered in a modern, comfortable, homely environment to help older people recover, regain their independence and, in the majority of cases, return to their own homes.  The development of a new Care Village would also support the wider integration agenda, which aims to ensure that health and social care services are better co-ordinated and more joined-up, especially for people with long term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people.

The proposals also include plans to create new purpose-built facilities to house a number of local GP practices which are keen to be part of the new development. These include the Viewfield, Park Avenue, Park Terrace and Wallace Medical Practices in Stirling.

A number of existing health services on the site, including the Minor Injuries Unit, X-ray facilities and GP out-of-hours services would be relocated to new accommodation and the Scottish Ambulance Service has also put forward plans to relocate their existing ambulance station in the Riverside area of Stirling to a new facility on the Stirling Community Hospital site. In addition, Forth Valley College is keen to explore the development of a new educational partnership with the Care Village which could increase training and volunteering opportunities for people interested in care as a career.

There are longer term plans to explore the development of commercial, flexible and adaptable housing and a masterplan has been developed to show where the different health, social care and potential new housing could be located on the site.

Tom Steele, NHS Forth Valley’s Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “This is a very exciting project and we are very pleased to be holding another public event to bring local people up-to-date with the plans for the development of the Stirling Community Hospital site and answer any questions people may have about the new Care Village.”