A NEW £40 million health centre in Lisburn that houses seven GP practices has opened its doors to patients.
The Lisburn Primary and Community Care Centre (PCCC) is billed as a “one stop location” for the health and social care needs of local residents.
Situated on the Lagan Valley Hospital site, the four-storey facility will also provide a wide range of primary and community care services, many of which have been relocated from the existing Lisburn Health Centre.
Services are being transferred on a phased basis, and it is hoped the PCCC will be fully operational by mid-March.
In addition to the GP practices, the PCCC will include Community Dental, Community Mental Health, Child Health, Children’s Disability, Orthoptic and Podiatry as well as a Therapy Department and Community Services.
The location was chosen to compliment existing inpatient and outpatient services within the Lagan Valley Hospital and help patients manage chronic conditions in the community, close to their homes.
South Eastern Trust Chief Executive Roisin Coulter said: “Working in close partnership with our primary care colleagues, we are delighted to be able to open this Centre which will provide such a wide range of vital services for the local community under one roof.
“As the PCCC is right beside Lagan Valley Hospital, our patients and service users will be able to easily access diagnostic services and receive treatment all on the one site. Our staff will also be able to benefit from delivering care in a modern, bright environment.”
Department of Health Permanent Secretary Peter May, said the lives of patients would be improved by grouping so many services together on the same site and integrating primary and secondary care.
A GP spokesperson, representing the views of the local GP practices within Lisburn Health Centre added: “We welcome the opportunity to move into the new building on the Lagan Valley Hospital site and look forward to providing primary care services to our patients from these greatly improved premises.”
More than 400 car parking spaces will be available at the PCCC, which is open on weekdays from 8am to 8pm, and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.
For the next two weeks, a free shuttle bus service will also be in operation from the Lisburn Health Centre to the new facility, between 8.15am to 12.15pm and 1.45pm to 4.30pm.
