13th February 2023
Patients of Montalto Medical Centre have benefited from additional services as a result of extra clinical space following the completion of an extension to its premises.
The extension was funded by the Department of Health (DoH) and has provided an additional three clinical rooms, office space for administration, improvements to waiting space and disability access arrangements for the building.
The project was supported under the DoH Primary Care Infrastructure Development Programme.
Pictured second from right is Elaine Hunter Programme Director, PCID at Department of Health with Montalto Medical Centre staff.
“Supporting investment in GP practices is a key priority for the DoH,” said Elaine Hunter, programme director. “More than £2 million in funding has been provided across the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area in the last three years, to increase capacity within primary care premises. I was delighted to be able to visit the Montalto Medical Centre and see first hand how the investment has delivered benefits to the practice and its patients.”
Montalto Medical Centre provides services for almost 10,000 patients in the Ballynahinch and surrounding areas. The practice has 25 staff members, including seven GPs, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and two General Practice Pharmacists. The practice also benefits from a new multi-disciplinary team which includes a physiotherapist, mental health practitioners and social workers. The practice also participates in GP training and undergraduate medical student training.
Dr Karen Poland, GP at Montalto Medical Centre said, “The extension to the practice has made a significant difference to our practice in being able to accommodate the multi-disciplinary professionals. Having different health care specialists on site has improved services for our patients. The feedback from our patients has been very positive – they are really impressed with the bright, modern facilities and with the services that they receive from staff.”