Government pressed over Elsick medical centre funding

North East MSP Alison McInnes has challenged the Scottish Government to fund a medical centre in the new town of Chapelton of Elsick in Kincardineshire.

Work started this month on the first phase of the £2 billion community, which will has a long-term target of 8000 houses.

Although three primary schools, a secondary schools, retail outlets and employment are all planned, a question mark hangs over the provision of a medical centre.

At a public meeting in Portlethen recently a NHS Grampian representative said that the board has no funds for capital spend. A new medical centre would cost in the region of £6m to £9m, he said, but they have no funding for such a proposal.

Mrs McInnes said: “I have written to health secretary Alex Neill to ask what steps the Scottish Government is taking to ensure NHS Grampian can provide medical services in Chapelton of Elsick.

“A number of constituents have approached me to voice their concerns about the impact the new town will have on the existing GP provision which is provided at Portlethen Medical Centre. I have meet staff at the surgery and heard of their apprehension as the new town develops.

“I am told the developers have offered a retail unit for the first phase of the town – some 800 houses – for a surgery and will also set aside ground for a full medical centre as the community grows. However there is no clarity about who will provide the funding.

“This is causing a great deal of disquiet among the existing populations of Portlethen, Newtonhill, Muchalls and the surrounding rural area.”

Local councillor Ian Mollison had raised the issue with the Liberal Democrat MSP and asked for her help in pressing the Scottish Government. He said: “The Scottish Government approved the Aberdeenshire local development plan so they have been aware for some considerable time of the plans for the new town … which would obviously include medical provision. So it should come as no surprise that it will have to be funded.”

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