Health Minister, Simon Hamilton, has today visited the new £16million Health and Care Centre in Banbridge.
The new facilities complete the development of the Health Village on the site of the former Banbridge Hospital which already accommodates the local GPs and are due to open early in 2016.
The Minister said: “I welcome the progress in this latest health development which brings together a wide range of primary care, community and acute diagnostic services at a single location closer to the local communities. These new sites are replacing old buildings with state of the art facilities which will greatly benefit the local people who will use them.”
The new state of the art facility has been handed over from the contractor to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust replacing three existing facilities– the Health Centre at Scarva Street, Banbridge Social Education Centre for adults with a learning disability and Copperfields which provides day care to adults with a physical disability.
The Minister continued: “Facilities such as these are providing access to services closer to where people live and underscore the principles set out in Transforming Your Care. This intimate knowledge is vital in tailoring services and initiatives to address local needs and alleviating pressures on our hospitals.
“We are all too aware of the financial pressures that my department faces, however, it’s vital to the future direction of the health service to continue to invest in modernisation and innovation so that the people of Northern Ireland can benefit from a world class health service we all deserve.”
The new Health and Care Centre will have around 220 staff delivering a range of community services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, specialist nursing, a rehabilitation suite and two dental surgeries. There is also bookable space available for other visiting services.
During his visit the Minister also took the time to view the new Day Care facility known as The Linenbridge Centre which will provide 46 learning disability places and 20 physical disability places.
It will also provide a range of shared accommodation including therapy space, treatment room, speech and language therapy room and associated support accommodation for staff.
Notes to editors:
1. The Community Health Village comprises the following projects:
- the relocation of Banbridge GP surgery (nine GPs have relocated to the purpose built centre on site) – completed in March 2007
- a supported living facility for older people with dementia in partnership with Fold – completed in May 2007
- a supported living facility for people with physical disability in partnership with Oaklee Housing Association, consisting of six bungalows for people with physical disabilities as a “step down” from nursing or residential care, or “step up” from independent living – completed in June 2007
- the Polyclinic and refurbishment of ambulance station already on site – completed in April 2007
- Banbridge Council has developed a memorial garden and community park on site
2. The Health and Care Centre will provide:
- a range of community services including a full range of Allied Health Professional (AHP) services, a rehabilitation suite, two dental surgeries, children and young people’s services, older peoples services, mental health services, specialist nursing and health promotion and facilities for visiting services
- it will also allow some existing services to be moved from the Polyclinic to provide more space to cope with the additional demand
- there will also be an extensive range of bookable clinical, meeting and interview rooms that will facilitate a range of Trust services alongside the community sectors
3. Within the Day Care Centre there will a range of shared accommodation including office space, kitchen, staff room, meeting space and treatment and clinical rooms. In addition there will be two separate wings of accommodation to cater for specific needs of clients:
- Learning Disability Day Care (46 places) includes: multi-sensory room, dining area, five activity rooms, stores, quiet rooms and assisted shower / bathrooms and toilets
- Physical Disability Day Care (20 places) includes: two group activity rooms, ‘Activities for Daily Living’ kitchen, dining space, assisted shower/ bathroom /WC, computer room, quiet room and sensory/therapy room
4. Media enquiries about this press release to DHSSPS Press Office on 9052 0575, or out of office hours contact to Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.