Politicians welcome creation of new GP clinic at Downe Hospital

Politicians welcome creation of new GP clinic at Downe Hospital

25 April 2012

LOCAL politicians have welcomed a near £1m investment in new GP and community services at the Downe Hospital.

Down Council chairman Dermot Curran and Newcastle councillor Patrick Clarke are confident the new services will help sustain the facility’s long term future.

The transfer of services currently provided at the Pound Lane clinic got underway this week with a number opening for business on Monday morning, with the new GP and community service base located on the first floor of the hospital.

Councillor Curran said the new unit will be a base for podiatry, physiotherapy, pain management and community dentistry services and described the opening of the new facility as “fantastic news” for the community.

He continued: “I’m pleased to see the South Eastern Trust’s commitment in consolidating and enhancing these valuable services, alongside the existing inpatient and outpatient services at the Downe.

“These changes are about providing better standards of treatment and higher quality care into the future. In particular, I welcome the invest in modern accommodation which will provide a more appropriate setting for the new unit.”

Councillor Curran said that as a result of the transfer of services from the former Pound Lane clinic, the Downe Hospital now offers an expanded range of services to meet the needs of the people of the area.

He added: “Down Council will continue to support the Trust in its efforts to enhance the level of care on offer to the community.”

Councillor Clarke said he feels “assured” the Downe Hospital now has a secure future within the local community.

“The new health centre will help sustain local health care services within Downpatrick. The new facility has been developed at a cost of £950,000 and will house over 80 staff, providing a wide range of GP and community services alongside existing hospital services,” he said.

Councillor Clarke said he was “very impressed” with the layout and range of health care services and facilities that will be provided at the new GP and community facility at the Downpatrick hospital.

The phased transfer of services from the Pound Lane clinic began on Monday.

A range of community services will relocate from Pound Lane on Friday May 4 at 9am, while dental services will be available at the Downe from Monday, June 25. All existing telephone numbers for services provided at Pound Lane remain unchanged.

The GPs moving to the new facility at the Down are Drs. Moore, Small McGoldrick and O’Connor.