The vision for a new £2.4m health centre in Doune was unveiled today. This would see the development of a larger, purpose-built health centre capable of delivering a wider range of local health and social care services.

Details of the proposed new centre are highlighted in an Initial Agreement which outlines the requirement for a new centre, describes the benefits it would bring and outlines a range of potential options.

The development of a new centre is a key priority as the current facility is overcrowded, requires considerable maintenance and is too small to accommodate the future needs of the growing local population.  Building a larger healthcare centre would enable a wider range of health and social care services to be delivered locally by health and social work staff. These include physiotherapy, podiatry, counselling and services to support people with long term conditions such as diabetes, dementia and COPD (a common respiratory disease). There would also be more opportunities to help patients improve their own health by providing additional support and advice on diet, exercise, managing medicines and giving up smoking. In addition, there would be improved facilities for the existing GP practice as well as accommodation for a range of visiting outpatient and services such as antenatal and child health clinics.

NHS Forth Valley has worked closely with staff from the existing health centre to develop plans for a new centre and earlier this year the Board purchased a plot of land on the North side of Doune for the development of this project.

Tom Steele, Director of Strategic Property and Facilities for NHS Forth Valley, said: “The aim is to create a new purpose-built health centre which would deliver an improved range of services and meet the future needs of the growing local population.

“This will make it easier and quicker for people to access the care and support they require in their local community and reduce the need for them to travel to hospital for treatment.”

The Initial Agreement, which was approved by the NHS Forth Valley Board at its meeting on 22^nd April 2014, will now be submitted to the Scottish Government. If approved, a Standard Business Case will be taken forward to develop more detailed financial and design plans for the proposed new Centre. These proposals will then be considered by the Scottish Government and, once national funding has been secured, construction could start in Summer 2015 and be completed by Spring 2016.

Approval was also given to install an additional temporary building at the existing Health Centre to create additional accommodation for the Practice.