19 August 2005
An extra £65m is to be spent on health centres, clinics and other primary care facilities in Scotland, First Minister Jack McConnell announced this week.
Describing the extra investment as a 'significant step in modernising Scotland's NHS', McConnell said record-breaking expenditure in the NHS had to be coupled with modernisation and reform. He added: 'We need more treatment and diagnosis at local health centres close to people's homes. This reduces costly, time-consuming visits to hospital - but it delivers better, faster treatment too.'
McConnell pointed out that health centres, pharmacies and dental surgeries were the first port of call for most Scots using the NHS. 'They demand and deserve excellent facilities which match their needs so we will continue to invest in new local centres,' he said.
The Executive said that under the existing programme, established in 1999, it had already invested £78m on 165 projects, including health centre clinics and new premises in remote and rural locations.
The extra £65m will be allocated as a result of NHS boards bidding to the Executive in two phases over the next two years.
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