‘Antrim Health Centre must be made fit for purpose’
THE Health Minister visited Antrim Health Centre last week to view what has been described as a building no longer ‘fit for purpose’.
Edwin Poots visited the Health Centre after an invite from local MP William McCrea, who had expressed concerns over conditions in which doctors are expected to receive their patients.
The Chief Executive and Chairman of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust were also in attendance during Wednesday’s visit.
“As local MP, I find the Health Centre a health and safety nightmare and the building serving the general public unfit for purpose,” Mr McCrea said.
He added: “During the Minister’s visit, I called upon the NHSCT to take urgent action in a number of areas outlined as major deficiencies by the local doctors.”
Mr McCrea had visited Antrim Health Centre - prior to the visit by Mr Poots - and said he had been appalled at what he branded the “disgraceful facilities” available to those in need of medical treatment, prompting him to invite the Minister to view the facility personally.
“I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to the Health Minister for accepting my invitation to see for himself the unacceptable conditions in which doctors at the Antrim Health Centre are expected to receive and treat their patients,” Mr McCrea said.
He added: “The visit provided me with the opportunity to show the Minister the deteriorating conditions of the buildings, and I was delighted that the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust were also in attendance.
“The complex opened in 1972 and since then little or no improvements have been made in the clinical area regarding the working space, and the disability access remains woefully inadequate.”
Mr McCrea said he appreciated that there has been some recent expenditure to weatherproof the building, but added that “it is unacceptable that the building has been allowed to deteriorate to its present condition”.
“During the Minister’s visit, I called upon the NHSCT to take urgent action in a number of areas outlined as major deficiencies by the local doctors,” Mr McCrea said.
He added: “The Centre when it first opened housed five GPs, but today this number has increased to 14 doctors over five different practices.
“I commend the spirit and determination of the GPs and the staff who continue to deliver an excellent service to the community under extreme pressures, however, they need a facility that is ultimately fit for purpose.”
Local councillor Adrian Watson has also been campaigning for urgent improvements for Antrim Health Centre and said he hoped that the Health Minister would take action following his visit.
Describing the facilities as “third world”, Cllr. Watson said that Antrim needs a proper health and wellbeing centre.
“Ballymena’s getting a dedicated one, and then you have the one at the Grove and Belfast,” Cllr. Watson said.
He added: “There’s no point sticking a band-aid over things - we needed a dedicated health and wellbeing centre which is fit for purpose.
“I commend the staff at Antrim Health Centre for doing a sterling job in what is effectively third world accomodation.
“There are buckets tied to the ceiling to catch leaks, the consultation rooms are tiny, it’s shambolic.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Antrim
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
