THE health secretary Humza Yousaf has officially opened the £21 million Greenock Health and Care Centre and hailed it as a 'shining example' for the rest of the country.

Mr Yousaf joined NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board chairman Professor John Brown, members of the health and social care partnership and council for a tour of the state of the art facility on the former Wellington Academy site, which opened its doors to patients back in May.

It was developed through a partnership between the HSCP, health board, council, Hub West Scotland and the local community.

Replacing the old health centre on nearby Duncan Street it has integrated services together and aims to help with regeneration and addressing health inequalities.

Mr Yousaf said: “Greenock Health and Care Centre is a shining example of how investing in multi-disciplinary teams can increase capacity in primary care, allowing patients to be seen at the right time by the right person, and also help reduce GP workloads.

“As well as modernising the existing facilities, this new site will make an invaluable contribution to our wider goals of community regeneration and addressing health inequalities, which have been exacerbated by Covid-19.

“This is why the Scottish Government has committed to primary care and GP services receiving a 25 per cent increase of NHS frontline investment over this parliament.”

As well as continued services such as GP surgeries, a pharmacy and primary care, the centre offers specialist children’s services, speech and language therapy and care at home is also based there.

Health board chief executive Jane Grant said: “This project represents a significant investment in the area.

"The new facility will be integral to delivering the new GP contract by allowing the development of multidisciplinary teams through co-location and collaborative working.

“This purpose built, bright, modern and fully accessible building provides an opportunity to reshape and increase services from a patient and service user perspective and provide care that is more integrated, accessible and efficient to our local communities in Inverclyde.

"We’re already seeing the positive impact this new site is having on the community here, as well as on our dedicated staff.”

Councillor Robert Moran, health and social care convener, has described the centre as a 'fantastic facility which is already proving hugely beneficial'.

He added: “It’s a bright, modern building with everything you would expect for a 21st century health centre.

“It is also a great example of positive partnership working between the council, HSCP, health board and partners to deliver this first-class facility for Inverclyde.”