SCOTLAND’S OLDEST COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT CELEBRATES 40th ANNIVERSARY
PILTON Community Health Project marked an amazing milestone on Thursday as they celebrated their fortieth birthday.
The ground-breaking local health project, which was launched at a doctor’s surgery on Crewe Road North back in 1984, was the first of it’s kind in Scotland.
Pilton Health Project later moved to bigger premises on West Pilton Park, where the Health Hut housed the innovative Barri Grubb food initiative and was home to the celebrated Western General Action Group campaign, before moving on to their present home on the corner of Pilton Drive North / Boswall Parkway.
My own involvement with the Health Project began in 1990 when the Western General Action Group fought a long campaign to retain Accident and Emergency and maternity/paediatric services at our local hospital.
Sadly Lothian Health Board decided otherwise, but through our persistence we did achieve the establishment of a Minor Injuries Unit at the Western – the first of it’s kind in Scotland.
Despite repeated funding challenges over the years Pilton Community Health Project has continued to provide a wide range of support services to some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable people, and Thursday was an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable story.
The project welcomed a visit by health minister Neil Gray and local politicians in the morning and in the afternoon a hardy group of us ‘golden oldie’ original supporters and PHCP staff took part in a wee walk from PCHP HQ to the project’s birthplace (and back again!) – an opportunity to meet up with friends old and new.
Back at the project guests enjoyed refreshments and shared stories and magic memories of some of the amazing characters who have played a part in PCHP’s rich history.
It really was a pleasure to be there – and I’m looking forward to the 50th anniversary party already!