Media Release

16 May 2007

SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN ONE STOP HEALTH AND CARE CENTRES FOR BELFAST

The Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey has committed £28million in funding for two new Health and Care Centres in Belfast.

The two new centres will be in Andersonstown and Shankill in West Belfast. A wide range of health and social care services will be available in the new centres such as family planning and orthodontics, nutrition and dietetics and physiotherapy.

Michael McGimspey made this announcement as he was shown around the newly built £7.5 million Lincoln Avenue Health and Care Centre in North Belfast which has recently been completed and is due to open for business next month.

“Primary care is the cornerstone of our health and social care system. Services for the people of this area are currently provided from a large number of separate facilities with local people having to travel to a range of locations for their community health and social care services,” the Minister said.

“This project will rationalise the existing office and clinical base and provide four Health and Care Centres.

“The development of health and care centres will contribute to a more accessible health and care system. Local people will receive a more complete service being provided by a wide range of primary care professionals in the community. This investment is another step towards upgrading and modernising our services so that local people come first. ”

“This investment today is an early benefit of the planned £2.9billion programme of investment which we are delivering across Northern Ireland over the next 10 years.”

For further information please contact
Belfast Trust Media Office
9096 0096
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