A new mental health centre of excellence was officially launched at the Vale of Leven Hospital today.
MSP Maurice Corry, who has campaigned for the centre since his election in 2016, said this would show services are being enhanced at the Vale and local people can access them on their own doorstep
He has worked closely with charity Defence Medical Welfare Service, highlighting the strong connection to the military in the area to deliver the funding needed for the mental health service to open.
The funding has enabled a welfare officer to be provided through NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide vital mental health support, which is more important than ever because of the effects of people living through lockdowns.
“This has been a hard-fought campaign but one I have been delighted to support alongside the Defence Medical Welfare Service and it is wonderful to see the mental health service now officially open,” said Mr Corry, a Conservative MSP for the West of Scotland region.
“This shows that services are being enhanced at the Vale of Leven Hospital, which is so important to the communities in this area in terms of healthcare.
“Mental health services continue to be vastly underfunded and at this time, we need them more than ever.
“Linking up with our military connections in the area is a real passion of mine as a veteran and this is why I was determined to see this service come to fruition.
“This opening marks a great milestone in improving access to mental health services in the Vale area and I look forward to seeing it flourishing in the years to come.”
He said he had lobbied Health Secretary Jeane Freeman for support for the facility and it would benefit not only the military community but the region as a whole, that it is provided at no cost to the NHS and is already supporting 15 patients at the Vale.
Mr Corry is pictured alongside mental welfare support officer Elaine McArdle (in white), Cllr Sally Page and other Vale of Leven NHS staff.
The Vale had a centre of excellence for mental health. It was called the Christie Ward.