by BILL HEANEY
Dumbarton is to get its own walk-in health centre.
This looks like a sop from the SNP government, who have been asked publicly time and again to provide a replacement for the jerry-built, decaying health centre in Station Road.
There has been speculation that a new health centre would be built on the site of the old Rialto Cinema in College Street, which was being illegally used as a cannabis farm.
But this SNP move appears designed to kill that off.
Jackie Baillie MSP said: “Anything which improves access to healthcare is welcome; however, I am clear that this does not change the need for a replacement Dumbarton Health Centre.
“We already have access to GPs in Dumbarton Health Centre, and what we need is proper funding of our existing services, allowing them to do more, rather than a new gimmick.
“Our existing clinicians in Dumbarton already see hundreds of patients every day; the problem is a decaying health centre which is not fit for purpose, and the SNP Government needs to fund a replacement.
“Our local GPs are desperate to be properly funded and equipped to help more patients.“Data already shows that GP walk-in centres elsewhere have seen low uptake and cost significantly more to operate than the existing model. This is money which could be better spent.”
Alexandria has a new centre as has Clydebank, but Helensburgh’s is hidden away off East King Street and is certainly not new.
The Scottish Government has plans to extend the number of GP walk-in centres across the country, despite stubbornly low attendance rates among those that are already up and running,
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley MSP said: “Several GP walk-in centres are seeing as few as four patients a day. It’s a far cry from the one million additional appointments promised by John Swinney.
“The Royal College of General Practitioners describes this SNP scheme as poor value for money. They have also suggested it may increase the workload on GPs, making it even more difficult for patients to be seen.
“The Scottish Government needs to urgently rethink this plan and start listening to the voices of nurses and doctors.
“The focus should be on easing the burden on GPs to free up their time and get everyone seen quicker. The best way to do that is by hiring more specialist staff in GP practices, enabling pharmacists to do more prescribing and investing in modern IT and digital systems.”
ENDS