Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Badenoch has warmly welcomed the Cabinet Secretary's approval of the NHS Highland proposals regarding the Service Redesign and new hospital arrangements in Strathspey.

He said, "I am delighted that the Cabinet Secretary has so quickly endorsed the excellent work of NHS Highland and their community partners."

He went on, "I know the momentum is developing and this speedy sign-off by the Scottish Government can only bring the new hospital development in Aviemore closer still."

Note:

Below is the Media Release from NHS Highland dated 03.02.15

MEDIA RELEASE

USE: Immediate      

ISSUE DATE: 3rd February 2015

Approval given for new hospital

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has approved NHS Highland's "exciting proposals" for the modernisation of its community and hospital services in Badenoch & Strathspey.

The go-ahead will mean the construction of a new community hospital and resource centre in Aviemore, and the eventual closure of the Ian Charles Hospital in Gratown-on-Spey and the St Vincent's Hospital in Kingussie.

"I am delighted that after a comprehensive engagement and consultation process the people of Badenoch and Strathspey can now look forward to the provision of redesigned services and a state-of-the-art new facility in their community," said NHS Highland chair Garry Coutts.

"It is great news for them and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to this process."

As well as a new hospital and resource centre, the decision will mean the expansion of care-at-home and community services, which will support the further integration of health and social care – something which Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison said in a letter to Mr Coutts she considered to be a "vital component" of the plans.

Aviemore Health Centre and the Glen Day Centre in Aviemore will be relocated to the new facility.

Speaking on the proposals, Ms Robison said:

"The Scottish Government is committed to providing modern state of the art healthcare facilities in which to provide the high quality care patients rightly expect.

"These proposals will bring new, modern facilities to the area and I look forward to the board taking them forward in close consultation with the people of Badenoch & Strathspey."

In her letter to Mr Coutts, the Cabinet Secretary said that, in considering the proposals, she had to be convinced that they were in the best interest of patients; that the key local services would be safeguarded and approved; that the health board had credible and viable plans for the provision of a new hospital and supporting community services and that the proposals were consistent with national policy, frameworks and guidance.

Explaining that she was content that the board's proposals were consistent with national policy, she added that they would "provide modern, fit-for-purpose services for the benefit of patients in all the local communities, including Grantown-on-Spay and Kingussie".

Ms Robison added that she was aware that some concerns had been raised about the new hospital in Aviemore, and noted that a working group including all relevant stakeholders had been set up. Ms Robison welcomed Mr Coutts' reassurance that NHS Highland was signed up to ensuring that people were not disadvantaged by any changes. She also welcomed the board's ongoing commitment to supporting the Badenoch and Strathspey Transport Company, and asked to be kept informed of the working group's progress in developing workable transport solutions and for these to be in place in time for the opening of the new hospital.

She also said that appropriate step-up/step-down beds in both local communities would have to be provided before the closure of Ian Charles and St Vincent's Hospitals, and that other community and care-at-home provision must be available before the board proceeds to the closure of the current facilities.

Ms Robison added: "In conclusion I am grateful to NHS Highland for the considerable efforts that have been made in bringing these exciting proposals forward.

"I know the board will appreciate the need to ensure that local people and all other stakeholders continue to be kept fully informed and involved in the on-going development and delivery of these services."

With approval having been granted, detailed planning for the new services and facilities would now get under way in earnest with a view to preparing the formal business case necessary in such projects. Work will include determining the specification for the new building and purchase of the site, in Aviemore's Technology Park, in the town centre.

It is hoped that construction will start around summer 2017, with a view to possible occupation of the new facilities in December the following year.

Mr Coutts said: "We have had tremendous input from the people of Badenoch and Strathspey throughout this process and we will continue to involve them as we work on writing a new chapter in the provision of health and social care in the area."