South Eastern Heatlh Trust could face independent review over working conditions at Lisburn health facility

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has been told that staff at the Lagan Valley Hospital’s Primary and Community Care Centre (PCCC) have raised concerns of a lack of drinking water in a building with excessive heat.

The trust has now pledged to look into the “serious issues” by offering a confidential survey amid a number of whistle-blowers making a “worrying” plea to remain anonymous.

In the Lagan Valley chamber, Lisburn South DUP Alderman Paul Porter said: “I have had the privilege of being looked after by the amazing staff as a patient visiting the Lisburn primary care over the last number of weeks.

"But, I started to get complaints about this state of the art multi-million pound centre in regards to ongoing issues such as heat and conditions they work in such as basic supplies as (drinking) water.

"Emails after emails, calls after calls and even one nurse wrote me a letter.

"But, sadly the amount of staff who have said to me ‘please don’t use my name’, which in itself is rather worrying.”

He added: “Can I ask for an independent review in regards to the new health centre given the concerns raised and for all staff to be questioned…on the conditions they have to work in as a matter of urgency.

"I would also urge that it has to be confidential, it has to be independent as you won’t really know the issues that the staff are facing unless they feel confident to be able to come forward.

"This is a serious issue and I would ask the trust to treat it as such.”

The £40m PCCC was officially opened in February 2023 with seven GP practices in-house.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has previously been told by the trust that a review of the building was carried out in 2025 which brought about a “natural ventilation” solution.

However, the Lagan Valley chamber heard that complaints of excessive heat have continued to be brought to the councillor’s attention in recent weeks.

In chambers, South Eastern Trust, director of planning, performance and informatics, Helen Moore responded: “In terms of the Lisburn Primary Care Centre…I am not the director responsible for estates matters, but I know they have taken the matter seriously and I appreciate the feedback about others coming forward to yourself.

"I know that the team has been monitoring with the company that owns the site as in the actual building on how the heating is working out.

"There was a whole review of the building management system that controls the heating and cooling and I can take back your request.

"I know we are very tight financially constraint, so I would need to check what level of review that there has been and what the continuing monitoring is telling us.

"Also, whether we could do a survey that gives people the independence to be able to get a broader view.

"I will take back the point on lack of access to water, which I assume is drinking water.”