Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson MSP has taken part in the ‘Topping Out’ Ceremony for a new £72 million health and care hub in Glasgow.

Mr Matheson joined Professor John Brown CBE, Chair of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, at the new North East Hub site on Friday 23rd June.

Delivered through a partnership between, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, Glasgow City Council and Hub West Scotland, and built by BAM Construction, the new health and care centre will be a true community asset and has been designed to offer a range of services, providing Community, Clinical, Office and Training accommodation for both NHSGGC and Glasgow City HSCP.

Mr Matheson said: “I am pleased to be able to visit this Hub as an example of the state-of-the-art facilities we are continuing to invest in, with £578 million committed for health infrastructure and assets in 2023/24.

“Facilities like this are key to supporting people to access the care they need close to home and to our commitment to building an NHS fit for the future with world class amenities, including the network of National Treatment Centres.

“This Hub will also contribute to our mission to be as environmentally sustainable as possible to meet our responsibilities in countering the climate crisis.”

The hub, which is set to open in 2024, will improve access to services and better integrate health and social work services and the voluntary and charity sectors. The facility will host three GP practices, as well as specialist services to support children, adult community care groups, older people, mental health, addictions, criminal justice homelessness services and health improvement activity – all delivered by a range of public and third sector organisations.

The North East Hub will be Scotland’s first working net zero carbon health and social care facility and the site will also offer community space, including a café and Parkhead Library.

Professor Brown said: “We are delighted to have been joined by Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care for the official Topping Out ceremony at the North East Hub.

“This is a hugely exciting project for the North East of Glasgow and is not only the largest primary care development in NHSGGC, but it is also Scotland’s first net zero carbon health and social care facility, making it a beacon for sustainability while improving public services for those living in the local area.

“By bringing services together in one place, alongside so many community projects, people will be able to access the support they need more efficiently, helping to improve population health and tackle the causes of inequality in healthcare.”

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Health, Care and Caring and Older People, said: “Today marks the next step into the delivery of what will be a fantastic community asset for the north-east of Glasgow, bringing together key services in one location.

“The end result is an ambitious new centre, a hub that will bring services and facilities together to build an incredible asset for the area. Our ambition is to ensure that everyone in Glasgow can lead healthier and more fulfilled lives and the new hub and the services it will provide will help us to achieve that.

“This is a great example of co-locating services and partnership working, and will offer a one-stop-shop for a range of services from the city council, Glasgow Life and Health and Social Care Partnership.”

A recent report on design and build of the new hub has revealed the project’s carbon impact rating will come in well under the benchmark target set out in the Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard.

The findings come following a Zero Waste Scotland Embodied Carbon and Circular Assessment which calculates the embodied carbon emissions in the built environment based on a number of key indicators along the project’s build – from resource extraction through to transport, processing and construction.

The report found the North East Hub was particularly strong in areas in relation to waste management, with a concerted focus on recycling at all stages of the project. The project was also praised for building in future flexibility to its design.

Iain Marley, Hub West Scotland’s Chief Executive said “We are delighted to see the excellent progress being made on site on this, our tenth project and most ambitious health project so far under the highly valued partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council.

“Our thanks also go to the professional team across our supply chain and to BAM Construction for all their commitment to quality and value for money. The building will be completed on schedule in summer 2024 and the project is already bringing significant value and benefits to local communities: so far over £11M of social value has been delivered through our education; employment; wellbeing; volunteering and SME development programmes and this will be added to over the future months.”