Staff at new health centre raise ‘serious concerns’ over excessive heat
Staff at Lisburn’s state-of-the-art health hub have blown the whistle to a city councillor over “serious concerns” of excessive heat working conditions.
The £40million Lisburn Primary and Community Care Centre (PCCC) at the Lagan Valley Hospital site was officially opened in February 2023 with seven GP practices in-house.
The long running issue of high temperatures prompted a review of the state of the art building last year, but claims of a “sauna” like atmosphere have reached boiling point with complaints now voiced throughout the hub. Lisburn South DUP Alderman Paul Porter said: "Over the past number of weeks, while attending the new multi-million pound health centre at Lagan Valley hospital, a number of nursing staff have approached me to raise serious concerns about the working conditions inside the building.
“In particular, nursing staff in one of the treatment rooms have reported excessive heat at sauna like levels, making it extremely uncomfortable for those delivering care to patients.
“More staff members have contacted me who work on different floors at the PCCC and have complained about the heat, so it seems this could be a problem throughout the building. “This is simply unacceptable in a new, modern, purpose-built facility that has been funded by the taxpayer. “Our nurses and clinical staff do an outstanding job under pressure every day. “They deserve working conditions that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose, not just for patients, but for the staff who spend long hours delivering front-line care.” Mr Porter added: “I raised these concerns directly at Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s corporate services committee meeting, where members unanimously agreed to support my request for the council, through the chief executive, to formally raise this issue with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
“Our healthcare staff deserve better, and I will continue to press for urgent action to resolve this issue.”
Lisburn’s Primary and Community Care Centre also provides multiple disciplinary services, including children’s disability and a therapy department, as well as caring for patients with chronic conditions.
The Trust’s website hails the hub as it’s one stop location for the community’s health and social care needs, all under one roof. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) contacted the South Eastern Trust.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: “The health and well-being of all our patients, service users and staff in the South Eastern Trust is paramount.
“We are aware of a number of minor issues relating to overheating in certain areas of Lisburn Primary and Community Care Centre, which typically arise during the summer months.
“These are not uncommon in large, modern buildings and can be influenced by weather conditions and occupancy levels. “A revised building management system strategy was implemented, prior to the summer period in 2025, which uses natural ventilation to help regulate internal temperatures and improve comfort levels for staff, patients and service users.
“The trust continues to monitor the effectiveness of this approach and remains committed to supporting a safe and appropriate working environment for all our staff, across its estate.”