New Health Centre to open next autumn

Minister for Health, Jim Wells said he looked forward to its launch in autumn, 2015, when he visited Ballymena on Wednesday to view progress at the Braid Valley Hospital site.

The new Health and Care Centre will include GP Practices as well as a mix of locally accessible selected acute, primary and community care services.

Acknowledging the efforts of Trust staff over the years in ensuring patients have access to services Minister Wells said: “This health and care centre in Ballymena is a much needed facility which will replace outdated accommodation. I look forward to seeing this modern facility opening to patients next autumn.

“This new Health and Care Centre will provide a range of easy accessible, integrated services from a modern one stop facility.

“The core vision of Transforming Your Care is to deliver care closer to people’s homes and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation.

“I have already underlined my commitment to achieving a transformation in health and social care services,” said the Minister.

Chief Executive of the Northern Trust, Dr Tony Stevens added: “The Health and Care Centre is a much needed brand new facility which will dramatically improve the provision and delivery of health care and social services to people in Ballymena and throughout the Trust area.

“By providing services in one area in the community closer to where people live they will be able to live independently for longer in their own homes and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation as outlined in the Transforming Your Care report.

“Local access to health care will help to promote good health, improve chronic disease management and allow for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions.

“We look forward to the opening of this brand new centre,” Dr Stevens said.