Plans for a new £6 million centre for Lochgelly and a £5m facility for Kincardine are to be submitted to the Scottish Government for approval.

It is predicted both buildings will be operational by 2021.

NHS Fife said every effort had been made to modify Lochgelly Health Centre to deliver modern, integrated health and social care.

The authority said the building does not meet modern design standards and there is no capacity for future growth, despite a rising patient list.

The Kincardine centre was originally a 1930s-built police station and has been adapted as far as possible.

Health chiefs said it is not fit for purpose as corridors and treatment rooms do not meet minimum standards, there is no disabled access in some areas and no storage.

A report to the NHS Fife board said: “All possible reasonable changes have been made to the building.

“There is no capacity growth.”

The new centres form part of NHS Fife’s capital investment programme for 2019-20, approved by the board earlier this year.

Meanwhile, a presentation of the current proposed designs and project update for the new multi-million-pound elective orthopaedic centre on the Victoria Hospital site in Kirkcaldy was given by the project team to the NHS Fife board last week.

The next stage of the project involves the production of an Outline Business Case for submission to the Scottish Government Capital Investment Group by early October.

A contract was established with GRAHAM to become the Boards Principal Supply Chain Partner to manage the build earlier this year.

The 18-month construction development will see the creation of a state of the art facility that will host three operating theatres, a 34-bed supporting ward, associated outpatient facilities and will be completed in March 2022.

NHS Fife chair, Tricia Marwick, said: “I am delighted that the project is progressing at pace and is meeting all current key milestones. Fife is fortunate to have one of the best renowned and most forward-thinking orthopaedic teams anywhere in the country.

“This new specialist centre will secure NHS Fife’s position as the heart of orthopaedic excellence in Scotland.”