NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council teamed up to officially open a new state-of-the-art community facility in Coatbridge.
A ceremony was held on Wednesday 15 December to unveil a plaque in the £18 million Buchanan Centre in the town’s Main Street.
The facility houses health and council services in a four-storey, 8000 square metre building which includes a spectacular central atrium as its centrepiece which every visitor will experience when they enter to visit its many services.
The building’s ground floor accommodates North Lanarkshire Council’s First Stop Shop, library and the area registration office which includes a purpose built ceremonies suite. NHS Lanarkshire accommodation utilises the remaining three floors and hosts two general dental practices, an innovative dental training centre, two GP surgeries and a range of community health services.
John Anning, chair of NHS Lanarkshire’s North Community Health Partnership (CHP), said: “The Buchanan Centre represents a significant investment by NHS Lanarkshire in local health care and is testimony to partnership working between two local agencies.
“This partnership means people can now access a wide range of health and council services in one convenient location.
“I’m particularly delighted that it hosts one of Scotland’s largest dental outreach centres.
“This not only provides specialist dental care to local people, it also gives final year dental students the chance to get front line experience under expert supervision.
“The centre will also provide excellent facilities for two GP practices and for a number of specialist mental health teams.”
Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, councillor James McCabe said: “This unique joint venture has brought a variety of services right into the town centre which can only be of benefit to local people.
“It’s a development which has also contributed significantly to the regeneration of Coatbridge town centre by transforming a derelict site.
“It has become the central focus of an enhanced public square within the pedestrian shopping area, which includes landscaping, seating and public art features.”
Councillor McCabe added: “We find ourselves in a difficult financial climate. But I am convinced that partnerships such as that between North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire can remain strong in the face of adversity. In fact, I believe that spirit of partnership is more important than ever.”
Colin Sloey, NHS Lanarkshire’s director of the North Lanarkshire CHP, said: “This partnership approach has delivered a modern, high quality, practical facility that will accommodate an expected one million visitors each year.
“When you consider that more than 90 per cent of the contact people have with the NHS is in primary care settings, the Buchanan Centre will make it easier for Coatbridge residents to use the services they need in one central location.”
Dawn Construction, working in partnership with Keppie Design, designed and built the new facility.
Eddie Robertson, Dawn’s construction director, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this outstanding new civic building which will enhance the fabric of Coatbridge town centre.”