It’s full steam ahead for Eastwood Health Centre

The ceremony marked an official starting point for the £15 million centre, which will include GP practices, district nursing, health visitors, social work, physiotherapy and podiatry services, as well as mental health services.

It is funded by the Scottish Government and developed by hub West Scotland in partnership with Scottish Futures Trust, East Renfrewshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - with ERC footing £5.5m of the cost.

The facility - at the former Isobel Mair site on Drumby Crescent - will also include a community enterprise cafe, run as an employability project.

Shona Robison said: “This centre will bring together local NHS and council services in the Eastwood area, important as we continue to work towards the full integration of health and social care.”

Andrew Robertson, chairman of NHS GGC, added that the facility “has been designed not just for the present but to be flexible to accommodate new services in the future and provide a variety of spaces for groups to come together for mutual support”.

The new health centre is also welcomed by East Ren Council, with leader Jim Fletcher commenting: “Eastwood Health and Care Centre is the culmination of a huge amount of partnership work between ERC, NHS, hub West Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust.

“Its construction will enable us to serve the whole of Eastwood in a modern, fit for purpose building.

“It means for the first time we will be able to house a number of services under one roof to give us a holistic approach to delivering health and social care to patients.”

The brand new centre is expected to open in spring 2016.

How do you think the new health centre is shaping up? Share your thoughts by emailing Gillian (address above).