New Health Centre - Pitlochry Plans Unveiled
Chair of NHS Tayside's Community Health Partnership, P&K C'llr Lorraine Caddell, paid tribute to the efforts of Pitlochry Community Council and the Friends of Irvine Memorial Hospital at the on-site unveiling of the new Health Centre at Pitlochry's Bobbin Mill on Monday 23 October.
In acknowledging all the parties and interests involved in bringing the project forward, she said that it was "people power that had assured that this health centre had not slid from the agenda".
In his turn, before formally revealing the designs on the interpretation board at the Pitlochry site, the MSP paid tribute to the NHS Tayside Board for "not flinching from the project"; to the board's chairman Peter Bates "for his steadfast support"; to Medical Centres Scotland who "had stuck with it"; to the local authority Planning Department and its Capital Works Estates and to local health manager Jim McGuinness.
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"I don't know whether I feel exalted and relieved, or relieved and exalted to have finally reached this point. The project will now relax the space constraints at the Toberargon surgery; provide a modern replacement for the Memorial hospital; house the ambulance service for Highland Perthshire and, additionally, offer residential care for the elderly of the area."
The project has now reached a landmark and developers are beginning to clear the site in preparation for building work.
Dr Jamie MacHugh of Toberargan Surgery, said:"We are delighted that all the hard work and meetings have at last progressed to a reality, and this innovative project which we originally envisaged is coming to fruition.
"We cannot wait to move into the new building. Currently we are very restricted and the move will allow us to markedly improve healthcare to our patients and significantly improve inter-agency communication," he added.
Christine Schmitt-Mackinnon, secretary of the Friends of Irvine Memorial Hospital, expressed relief at the happy commencement of the long-pursued enterprise. She echoed the list of thanks expressed by the MSP, and added gratitude "to all the many local folk whose efforts have helped to maintain the momentum" of the scheme.
She continued: "We are very grateful that we have been involved at all stages in this long and difficult process and look forward to following progress and continuing our support at the new location."
The Friends also hope to fund several projects on the new site, including a therapeutic garden for the Atholl Unit, which will house dementia patients.
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