Health Minister s in on staff at Saintfield Health Centre

Health Minister s in on staff at Saintfield Health Centre

15 August 2012

HEALTH Minister Edwin Poots visited Saintfield Health Centre yesterday to see at first hand the important role family doctors and their practises play within the local community.

The Minister toured the centre, which accommodates a range of health and social services such as district nursing, podiatry and physiotherapy, and spoke with the practice manager, partners and staff.

“The role of general practice has changed considerably over the last number of years and will play an essential part in delivering real reform to health and social care here in Northern Ireland as part of ‘Transforming Your Care’,” said Mr. Poots.

“The Transforming Your Care model of integrated care is designed with the individual at the centre with services built around them. The system will join together a full range of services to deliver care closer to home where appropriate, which will reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

“Partnership across the various providers in primary and community care is essential for the effective delivery of health care to patients. The team at this practice is an excellent example of the advantages to be gained from close integrated working between GPs and community services.”