JURBY'S new health and community centre has been hailed as "exceptional".

Political member for the Department of Health Dudley Butt MLC gave his views after receiving the keys for the centre from Seamus Nugent, director of main contractor Dandara.

And Dr Graham Wilson, a senior partner at Ramsey Group Practice, has echoed Mr Butt's remarks, describing the facilities as "first class". 

Mr Butt said: "The facilities for both the provision of medical care and those for use by the wider community are truly exceptional.

"This is a significant moment in the ongoing development of Jurby and this building will clearly be a valuable asset to all of those in the community.

"I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the honourable Eddie Teare MHK, who initiated this project during his time as Minister for Health and Social Security.

"My thanks also go to the architect Savage and Chadwick, the main contractor Dandara, all the other contractors and suppliers involved, and officers within the department who have so successfully brought this project to fruition."

Construction work on the £1.6m centre began just over a year ago on the site of the former Jurby Hotel following approval for the spending by Tynwald at its October 2010 sitting.

Captain of the Parish of Jurby, John Quayle, was invited by Health Minister David Anderson MHK to cut the first sod at the site.

The new health facilities will be home to a GP clinic, initially each morning, operated as a satellite service by Ramsey Group Practice.

Community Nursing will also use the site as a base for some of its work in the north west of the Island.

Mr Anderson said: "The department has worked hard over the past several years to provide a viable, sustainable and long-term solution to increasing GP and community nursing facilities in the north and west of the Island.

"This significant investment will be the Island's 15th health and medical centre for general practice and community nursing and will greatly increase capacity and convenience for a large number of residents in the wider area."

The centre has also enabled government to bring a considerable expansion of community facilities for Jurby and the surrounding area.

There will be rooms available for use by the public and community groups, with services currently run from Earroo Nane - a converted house in Jurby - moving to the new centre.

This will allow the house to be freed up and released back to the Department of Social Care for much needed housing stock.

The community facilities at the centre will be of immediate benefit as they will be used by the Children's Centre and the mother and baby clinic.

Dr Graham Wilson said: "These facilities are first class and have been designed to the exacting modern standards required for the 21st century general practice.

"Myself and my colleagues are very much looking forward to running GP services from the new health centre alongside our existing services.

"We are grateful for the funding provided by the department to make this possible.

"The centre should be of great benefit to all those in Jurby and the surrounding areas."

An open day is being planned for January to allow the local community to find out more about the centre and to tour the facilities.