May 2010 - 06:47 pm, Thu 27th May 2010
Vale Medical Centre
The new centre is proposed to be built over the course of three financial years, beginning in 2010/11.
However in the next few years there will be ever increasing tightening of public spending. Indeed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are reporting they will be running a deficit of £35 million in the next few years and this will severely impact on future capital building programmes such as the Vale Medical Centre.
It is only the first year’s funding that has been confirmed and this only pays for architects and preliminary surveys of the site to be completed. Before an actual brick is laid a final business case must be presented to both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Scottish Government.
I believe that this is a step in the right direction for the Medical Centre. Needless to say I will continue to push for all of the funding to be confirmed so that the Vale of Leven receives the medical centre they deserve and were promised by the Vale Vision.
Lukewarm Response from SNP
While we have all been enjoying the fantastic mini heatwave last week I was extremely disappointed to learn of a recent report which highlights that nine out of ten people in West Dunbartonshire who asked for help from the new Energy Assistance Package did not receive new central heating.
We have just come out of one of the longest and bitterest winters in recent memory. It is therefore very concerning to learn that the SNP have only granted new central heating systems to 10% of eligible applicants in West Dunbartonshire. This is simply unacceptable.
The sunshine and warm weather is unfortunately a finite resource in Scotland and the SNP must really start to meet the needs of pensioners and families so that people do not have to chose between heating and eating.
Council Shake Up
I would like to wish Iain Robertson all the best in the future as he resigns as the Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council this week. Whoever is selected to replace him has a tough job on their hands as recent Audit Scotland reports have highlighted the continuing poor performance of the Council. And let’s be clear, this is not the poor performance of the many hardworking Council staff who deliver our services on a daily basis. I am prepared to work with all in the Council to turn around our local authority’s fortunes. The coming months and years are vital for West Dunbartonshire and I do hope that the SNP put the interests of the people ahead of political infighting amongst their ranks.
So far the package of SNP cuts has had a hugely negative impact on some of the most vulnerable in our community. The SNP should know that local voters will not be satisfied with simply getting rid of the Council Leader. They will recognise that this is simply shuffling the deckchairs.
Last week a report from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde set out a provisional funding timetable for a new medical centre in Alexandria. Whilst this is welcome news, it is evident that the project is not out of the woods yet.
