Published: Wednesday, 2nd April, 2008 12:00
Health care services will be much closer to home
By Alloa Newsroom
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A site plan of the new Clackmannanshire community hospital.
IN THE shadows of the Ochil Hills, a model of health care for the future is taking shape, bringing services closer to people’s homes.
The new community hospital will provide both in-patient and day services – there will be 45 in-patient beds for frail older people and a day therapy unit, which will offer help with a falls prevention scheme, dementia care and other services for those with both mental health and physical needs.
Also based at the hospital will be community mental health and social work teams.
Alongside will be a replacement for the existing health centre in Alloa. It will see 800 patients a day and offer primary care to 25,000 people.
Services will include three GP practices (l6 GPs), community nursing, podiatry, dental, pharmacy, physiotherapy, paediatrics and dermatology outreach.
NHS Forth Valley chairman Ian Mullen said, “The new £20 million development is a modern community healthcare campus and designed to present the image of a small, well landscaped ‘village’.
“It’s set in a mature area bordered by trees and stone walls, and all patients will be treated in single en suite rooms and have access to an extensive range of rehabilitation services – including gymnasia!
“There’s already a built-in feelgood factor with the surrounding hills and landscape and the buildings have been designed to reflect a residential rather than institutional character.
“What we are trying to do on this state-of-the-art campus is to promote a sense of well being and deliver the very best clinical care for the people of Clackmannanshire.”
To help people find their way about the site, there will be prominent architectural landmarks and colour coded areas.
For example, in the health centre there will be an atrium in the main foyer, and local people are involved in choosing colour schemes for the buildings.
Each area will have its own theme linked to health and well being – in mental health it is planned to use silver and white which are restful colours.
A welcome cuppa will be available in a WRVS café, which will also serve a healthy options menu. And there will be 225 car parking spaces.
The Clackmannanshire health facility is seen as vital to the success of the Forth Valley integrated healthcare strategy to provide care closer to people’s homes. Community hospitals will complement the new £300 million acute hospital currently being built at Larbert.
Clackmannanshire Council leader Janet Cadenhead said, “I am delighted that the people of Clackmannanshire are soon to benefit from a modern community hospital, providing care closer to people’s homes.
“The local population is growing and developing at a rapid pace and the replacement health centre will play an important part in preventing as well as treating ill health in the local community.
“I have watched the dramatic changes take place on site and am excited about this and the many other infrastructure changes taking place in the county, contributing to the area’s wider regeneration.”
The new health facility is being constructed by Scottish company the Robertson Group who will also maintain the building for 30 years.
The development is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
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