£40 million shot in the arm for local healthcare

“This is a step in the right direction in terms of developing a primary care clinic in association with the Lagan Valley Hospital, which will ensure we have a centre of health excellence in chronic care and will support the local community in providing a quality care facility,” said Mr Poots.

“The provision of a primary care clinic on the same site as the Lagan Valley Hospital will ensure services are not diminished but by having both centres in one facility will assist in providing a more seamless relationship between primary and secondary care, thus enhancing the service provided in the local community.

“The investment that will come about as a result of this development is some £40 million, which should be seen as a significant boost for healthcare services in the Lisburn area.”

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he believed it was the right decision to relocate the health centre to the hospital site.

“I know there will be some people in the community who will be concerned about the relocation of the health centre but having met with the Trust on several occasions, I am convinced this is the best way to secure the long term future of the Lagan Valley Hospital and to ensure that emergency services are reinstated to full time capacity again,” said Mr Donaldson.

“Therefore, on balance, I believe this is the right decision and that with the combined primary care and hospital services, local people will have access to diagnostics and treatment much more efficiently because there will be a joined up approach and that will be a good thing for the local community.”

Lisburn Councillor, Alexander Redpath, welcomed the news that an outline planning application had been lodged with the aim of moving forward the plans to relocate the health centre to the Lagan Valley Hospital.

“I’m very pleased to welcome new investment in Lagan Valley Hospital and a new health centre is greatly needed,” said Mr Redpath.

“This ties in particularly well with the GP out of hours service and I hope both services can be jointly marketed to raise awareness of the excellent care available at the Lagan Valley Hospital.”