18 hours Ago
CITY centre residents are still without a GP surgery, despite the rising population. Merchant City and Trongate Community Council (MCTCC) have been asking for a practice to be opened in the area for 20 years. Currently, those living in the city centre who wish to register with or see a GP have to travel to the Gorbals, Bridgeton, Townhead Health Centre at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Anderston or Woodlands.
Following Holyrood’s announcement of a £2billion boost for health and social care services, a spokesperson for MCTCC said the failure to open a primary care facility in the city centre is "harder to comprehend" and highlighted the Townhead Health Centre is on a direct bus route. READ NEXT: 'Ridiculous': Glaswegians forced to wait hours outside in rain for vaccinations They said: "Following our most recent request for an update in November the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership [GCHSCP] told us there are no plans whatsoever for a GP practice in our area. "It blamed the Scottish Government for imposing a moratorium on all significant NHS building projects until 2026 at the earliest.
"We appreciate that the Board is struggling to cope with its challenges, but local people are getting fed up with this shilly shallying, especially in view of Glasgow City Council’s plan to double the city centre population by 2030. "We support that aim but if there is to be such a large rise in the population there has to be a commensurate increase in basic infrastructure including primary medical facilities." READ NEXT: Union hits out as lifeline Glasgow family support service faces 'major cuts' In August, the Glasgow Times reported the latest population figures show the number of people living in the city centre has risen by a third in just over a decade.
The figures show 28,341 people now live in the area up from 21,185 in 2011. That number is expected to rise to 34,604 by 2029/30. The MCTCC said residents' concerns have also been exacerbated by the number of applications for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in the area, plus buy to let developments in and around the King Street car park.
They said none of the developers have mentioned contributing to the establishment of a doctor’s surgery. At a Blythswood and Broomielaw Communtiy Council meeting in September, developers who will be submitting plans to build a PBSA development on Bath Street said they would offer the ground floor of the building to the local community for free to fill with something they need. A GP practice was one of the suggestions from local residents who also want to see one in their area.
A spokesperson for GHSCP spokesperson said: "We are aware of the community council’s concerns over GP services in the city centre. "We continue to look at ways of addressing areas where there is potential unmet need, or where there may be difficulties for communities or particular groups to access primary care services. "We are also working to ensure that the changing health and care needs of the city are recognised as part of the City Development Plan 2.
" A Scottish Government spokesperson added: "Design of local health services is a matter for the relevant health and social care partnership. "The £139 million additional investment across NHS infrastructure set out in the draft Budget will allow our health capital programme to restart. "We will set out our revised infrastructure investment plan following the UK Government’s Spending Review next year.
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