SCOTLAND'S health minister is to visit Lochgelly Health Centre as the wait for a new, purpose-built facility in the town continues.
Neil Gray is coming to the centre tomorrow Wednesday (July 24) where the case for funding will be put across.
NHS Fife promised to replace the David Street facility by 2019, but work never started and, earlier this year, it was kicked into the long grass when the Scottish Government announced it was to adopt a phased approach to capital expenditure meaning it could not be delivered within planned timescales.
NHS Fife has said the current centre is “functionally inadequate and compromises proactive patient care.”
READ MORE: Calls for further talks over new Lochgelly Health Centre
Garrie Roberts, chairperson of the Friends of the Lochgelly Health Centre group, is hopeful that an end for their campaign is in sight.
"It is 12 years now," he said.
"It is just absolutely ridiculous.
"They are doing a bit of painting and filling in holes. The doctors are all 100 per cent. Dr Robson is a good guy and he has been leading this as well with us.
"We have had a couple of meetings with him and we have had about three or four meetings with Annabelle Ewing over the last six months and gave her earache."
Tomorrow's visit follows one with Mr Gray's predecessor Michael Matheson MSP in September last year which left campaigners "disappointed" after failing to get answers with one patient refusing to shake the minister's hand until the new health centre is provided.
Mr Roberts said the state of the building means a solution is required sooner rather than later.
"There is no wheelchair access, there are holes in the walls, there's only one entrance and there's holes in the concrete they haven't touched," he explained.
"Everytime it rains, it floods it which is absolutely ludicrous. The roof is leaking all over the place, there is no confidentiality because everything is so wide open.
READ MORE: Lochgelly health centre campaigners vow to fight on for new facility
"The waiting room is right next to the reception so everyone can hear everything. The other thing is it is just really old. The rooms are tiny, like little cupboards.
"When the minister came last time, he was gobsmacked. It is not fit for purpose."
Mr Roberts is hopeful the visit, during which members of the campaign group will get the chance to speak to the government minister, may be more successful than the previous one.
"Last time, he (the health minister) waffled. I said, 'You are just waffling'," he added.
"Hopefully it is a positive thing that he is coming although it is maybe just a gesture.
"The money is there if the will is there."
Former health minister Mr Matheson confirmed earlier last year that the construction of a new health centre in Lochgelly, as well as one in Kincardine, had not been identified as a priority in the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan for 2021-26.
"They were two of a number of projects which the Scottish Government was hoping to take forward at the earliest possible opportunity, if budget flexibility emerged," he said.
READ MORE: MSPs seek talks with new health minister over Lochgelly medical centre
"The Scottish Government recognises that there is a need to invest in health facilities in Kincardine and Lochgelly.
"However, the impact of higher than expected inflation means there is no ability to expand the health infrastructure programme at this point.
"Instead, health infrastructure spending will be focused on the priority projects set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan and funding for new health centres in Kincardine and Lochgelly is unlikely to be available until 2026 at the earliest."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here