Ballygowan may get new health centre

Ballygowan may get new health centre

5 March 2014

HEALTH chiefs are to discuss a suggestion that they develop a new health centre in Ballygowan.

The idea has been floated by members of the village’s community association concerned at the impact the recent closure of a GP surgery is having.

Members of the Ballygowan group met recently with the South Eastern Local Commissioning Group (SELCG) as part of the continuing campaign for enhanced health facilities in the village.

Community officials revealed during the meeting that they have contacted a developer who is building new sheltered housing accommodation in Ballygowan to ask if he would be interested in incorporating a health centre in his proposal.

The community group believes such a development would not only cater for people in Ballygowan, but in nearby Moneyreagh which also does not have a GP surgery.

Mr. Paul Turley, the lead commissioner for the SELCG, agreed to set up a meeting between community group officials and the Health and Social Care Board’s Integrated Care Directorate, to discuss the health centre idea.

Iris Oliver, chairwoman of Ballygowan Community Association, has welcomed the forthcoming meeting to discuss the health care needs of people in the village. She informed Commission members during the recent meeting that people in Ballygowan are “very unhappy “about the closure of the GP surgery at the Brae.

The chairwoman outlined the impact the closure was having on the community, highlighting the difficulty people are having accessing public transport to get to a surgery in Lisbane where their GPs are based because there is no direct bus route.

“Ballygowan has a growing elderly population that requires more health services in the future, not less,” she continued.

“In addition, the provision of health services and a GP surgery was the top concern for residents in a recent independent village survey as part of the process to draw up a new development plan.”

Iris also expressed concern about the survey conducted by the Health and Social Care Board about the closure of the GP branch surgery in Ballygowan, claiming “not all the residents in the village were asked for their views.”

A request for the Commissioning Group to facilitate a meeting with seven GP surgeries who provide health services to the people of Ballygowan was rejected, with officials explaining the GPs had already been consulted as part of the Board’s survey.

Iris added: I am pleased that the Commissioning Group listened to our concerns and that a meeting will be arranged for the future to discuss some of the ideas we outlined. While I do not want to raise expectations, at least we are on the right road.”