Go ahead for health centre plan

The £5m health centre plans have moved forward

The development of a £5m health centre in Dumfries has been approved by the local health authority.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway has made the decision following public consultation which found support for the project.

The new facility is earmarked for a site near Lochfield Road and Summerville Crescent in the north west of the town.

It will be a new centre for two surgeries which are currently based in Dumfries town centre.

The Charlotte Street practice and the Cairn Valley GP branch in Buccleuch Street are set to relocate.

The centre will also accommodate a specialist drug and alcohol treatment unit.

In addition, the range of community-based services will include provision for children with substance misuse problems.

Some concerns

A business case for the centre was agreed by the local health board late last year.

It was followed up with a programme of information events designed to gauge local opinion.

While some concerns were raised about drug and alcohol services sharing the premises, the vast majority of those who took part in the public consultation gave their backing to the plans.

Health bosses have now agreed to establish a project board and appoint a design team to take the development forward.