Building towards a healthier Kirkintilloch

9 May 2008

Building work is officially underway on the Kirkintilloch Integrated Care Centre (KICC). The £8m custom built Centre, one of Kirkintilloch Initiative’s (KI) flagship projects, will provide local people with access to health and social care services from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and East Dunbartonshire Council.

A sod cutting ceremony took place today (Thursday 1 May) to mark the start of construction on the Kirkintilloch Integrated Care Centre (KICC) with representatives from Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS, East Dunbartonshire Community Health Partnership, Councillors, representatives from Barr Limited, Social Work, KI and Community Representatives attending.

Barr Limited, the contractor appointed to design and build the KICC, was previously responsible for the design and build of Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre, which has been a huge success with local people and visitors since opening its doors in July 2007.

The new KICC, which is expected to be open for business by Autumn 2009, promises to be a busy hub of the regenerated town centre and will offer:
• primary and community health care services, including health visiting, district nursing, GP services, podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and home care;
• mental health and addiction services;
• social work and social care services, including older people, learning disability, physical disability and occupational therapy services

Andrew Robertson, Chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, explains:

“Bringing health and social care services together under one roof will make them easily accessible and improve the standard of care available. This project has a real focus on healthy living and the modern building is purpose built to meet the needs of patients and staff. We’re looking forward to providing a wide range of services and exciting, new health initiatives from this Centre.”

Located at the former Woodhead House at Industry Street, the centre will replace and bring together the existing Townhead clinic, Larkfield Centre and local Social Care services into one location.

Council Leader and KI Board Member Rhondda Geekie believes it will be a real boost for the local community. She said:

“This is the second major development KI has delivered for the town, and is the result of an effective partnership between the Council and the NHS. We already have a state of the art Leisure Centre and this new Care Centre will really add to the healthy living services on offer. There is a lot of investment going into Kirkintilloch, making it a great place to live and work.”

Like many of the other projects in the KI portfolio, the new KICC is designed to link in with existing and planned developments in the town. A lit walk way between the KICC and the Leisure Centre will be installed and there are plans to deliver some health services within the Leisure Centre, including therapeutic groups. A proposed sensory garden for the KICC, with lights and textured objects, is also expected to have input to the design from the planned Kirkintilloch Arts & Cultural Centre.

Dr Eric Mackay, Community Representative said:
“The Townhead clinic was an excellent facility and when built was well ahead of its time. The time is ripe for a new centre which builds on the health and social care services provided by the Townhead clinic, Larkfield Centre and Social Work care services, all of whom have been doing sterling work for the local community over the years.”

Brian Rourke, Community Representative added:
“It’s been a long time in the gestation, but it’s good to see, at long last, the symbolic cutting of the first sod signifying the commencement of building operations on this project. An integrated centre will make sure people get the right care and treatment they need”

Preparatory works at the site are already underway. The contract award will see this activity intensifying over the next few weeks.

Duncan Hamilton, Project Director for KI, said:
“A lot of hard work has gone into this project and coming up with designs that will benefit the whole community. I’d like to thank everybody involved for their commitment and support.”

Until the opening of the Kirkintilloch Integrated Care Centre (KICC), next year, health and social care services in the town will continue to operate as normal from their existing bases at Townhead Clinic and Larkfield Lodge. Further information about the KICC can be accessed at www.k-i.org.uk.