THE new Clydebank Health and Care Centre has been confirmed to cost approximately £19 million – and plans have taken another major step forward.

On Tuesday, the board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) and the Scottish Government Capital Investment Group approved the full business case – the document which explains the case for the investment of money.

The NHS say the centre will revolutionise healthcare for Clydebank residents and bring much needed state of the art healthcare facilities.

These will include GP surgeries, district nursing, health visiting, pharmacy team, podiatry, dieticians, physiotherapy and a home care team.

John Brown, chairman of NHSGGC, said: “The current facilities at Clydebank Health Centre are widely regarded as out-dated and uninviting and not ideal for the provision of 21st century health and social care services.

“We need to provide our staff with buildings that help them to introduce more modern ways of delivering health and social care and support the move towards health and social care integration and the provision of more services outside hospitals and in local communities.

Read more: Money from charity event in aid of Connor Luke donated to children's hospital

“Therefore, the new purpose-built centre has been designed to be much more than a simple replacement of the existing facility. It has the potential to bring together the key elements from a range of professions to tackle health inequalities, improve health and contribute to social regeneration in the Clydebank area.”

The next step forward is financial closure - when all the conditions of the financing agreement are fulfilled prior to the initial availability of funds.

Beth Culshaw, chief officer, West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSP), said: “I am delighted that another major milestone has been reached for plans to build a modern, state-of-the-art health and care centre for the people of Clydebank.

“The commitment to tackling health inequalities in areas of high deprivation and promoting social regeneration is clearly demonstrated by NHSGGC’s decision.

“The national transformation of primary care means that this project is not about a simple replacement of an existing facility.

“It is about taking the opportunity to create a centre where the people of Clydebank can expect to be supported by a wide range of professionals, closer to their home, and be enabled to live healthier, more independent lives.”