A NEW health centre for Lochgelly was "first promised by the Scottish Government back in 2011" but there is no news on when or if the £13 million needed will become available.
The SNP MSP for Cowdenbeath, Annabelle Ewing, quizzed the minister in the Scottish Parliament last week and later admitted there was "no commitment" to providing the funds any time soon.
It's 13 years since a new health centre was promised but it's been repeatedly delayed and last year the government said capital projects were under review and there wouldn't be any money for a centre until at least the "second half of the decade".
"Given that I understand that there will be additional capital spend available and that decisions will quite properly be made according to priority, I put it to the cabinet secretary that it must surely be Lochgelly’s turn now."
Shona Robison, the cabinet secretary for finance and local government, replied: "I absolutely agree that it is vital that spending is prioritised based on need and expected impact.
"We are working with all health boards, including NHS Fife, to consider infrastructure needs across all of Scotland to develop a whole-system national health service infrastructure plan.
"That will support the continued safe operation of existing facilities as well as determine the longer-term investment priorities.
"I am happy to continue to discuss that with Annabelle Ewing in the run-up to the revised infrastructure investment pipeline."
Speaking afterwards, Ms Ewing said: “Whilst very conscious indeed of the various and severe financial pressures across the public sector, I am determined to continue my fight to secure a much-needed new medical centre for Lochgelly.
“I was not surprised at all that no commitment could be given at this point in time, but it was important to take the opportunity to keep the issue very much on the agenda and I welcome the offer from the cabinet secretary to discuss investment priorities with her in the run-up to the revised infrastructure investment pipeline.”
The Friends of Lochgelly Health Centre met the new Labour MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife, Richard Baker, in September to raise their frustration at the delay in building a new health centre.
That followed a visit by Health Secretary Neil Gray to the David Street facility - described as "not fit for purpose" by NHS Fife - in July.
At that time Dr Brian Robson had said: "The main thing about the visit was to make sure Neil Gray himself had seen the conditions that patients experience and staff experience.
"We managed to show him the water coming through the ceilings and staff working in cupboards with no windows, the lack of security, the carpeted clinical rooms.
"He was, I think, genuinely shocked by the state of the health centre in 2024."
At question time last week, Ms Robison explained that the capital funding position "remains challenging" and infrastructure projects are still under review.
She added: "The Scottish Government is assessing the full implications of the UK autumn budget and we await the outcome of the UK Government’s spending review in late spring 2025.
"Full consideration will be given as to which projects are affordable and deliverable and can be included in our revised infrastructure investment plan pipeline."
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