§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether or not the Department of Health and Social Services will provide general practitioner suites in the Poleglass development.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Department's policy is to provide general practitioner suites in a health facility only where the need for them has been established and where 469W the local practitioners have agreed to practise from them.
The Eastern Health and Social Services Board, which has responsibility for the provision of health and personal social services in the Poleglass area, has proposed that a health facility comprising three suites, together with a range of clinic and other accommodation, should be provided. Whilst the Department has approved in principle the provision of the clinic and other accommodation, it has not approved the provision of suites. The building can be designed so that suites can be added at a later date if the need arises.