Some of the first patients to be treated in the new GP and Minor Injuries Centre at Stirling Health and Care Village have given it the thumbs up, describing the premises as lovely, bright and modern.

Eleanor Nicolson from Tillicoultry, pictured with NHS Forth Valley Chief Executive Cathie Cowan, said she appreciated the large windows rather than having to sit in a ‘wee waiting room.’ “It looks  lovely” she added. Others remarked it was a big difference from the previous area, a good thing to have something new back in Stirling far superior to the previous Minor Injuries Unit and much easier to access.

The Centre, which opened its doors for the first time on Monday 13^th August 2018, provides spacious accommodation for a number of services which have relocated from other parts of the Stirling Community Hospital site. These include Minor Injuries services, X-ray facilities (two X-ray rooms and two ultrasound rooms), GP out-of-hours services and Keep Well services.

It will also house three local GP practices (Viewfield, Park Avenue, and Park Terrace Practices), which will transfer across over the next few months and provide a local base for the Scottish Ambulance service.

The Minor Injuries Unit within the new Centre continues to operate from 9.00am – 9.00pm, 7 days a week without the need for an appointment and provides treatment for a wide range of injuries including minor burns and scalds, sprains, cuts, minor eye, ear, head and neck injuries and treatment for suspected broken bones (including X-rays and plaster room facilities).

The Centre is the first part of the new £37m Stirling Health and Care Village to be opened. The Bellfield Centre, a 116 bed inpatient facility which will provide short-term care, assessment or rehabilitation for older people, is due to be completed later in the year. It will also have a café, hairdresser, landscaped areas and an information area which can be used by local community groups and volunteers.

The final phase will see the development of a new vehicle workshop for the Scottish Ambulance Service in Autumn 2019, completing the transfer of facilities from their current base in the Riverside area of the city.