Calls for public transport improvements before £13M Aviemore hospital is built
Health chiefs have been warned that no real progress can be made on a new £13 million hospital in Aviemore until the "insanity" of the strath’s public transport system has been resolved.
As a major new public consultation on the proposal was launched, Highland councillors spoke out about the "bloody disgrace" of current bus operations in the area.
Community leaders have said that it is vital that a fit-for-purpose transport system is in place for patients and their relatives if plans go ahead which will result in the closure of the Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown and St Vincent’s Hospital in Kingussie.
Representatives from communities in Laggan, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Kincraig and Newtonmore have now met with NHS Highland finance head Kenny Rodgers and Maimie Thompson, head of public relations and engagement, for talks on the hospital.
It was the first face-to-face meeting in a series of public consultations planned between now and the end of June on the new hospital plan.
Mr Rodgers revealed: "An optimistic time-line is for a new hospital in three to five years."
Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillor Dave Fallows (SNP) urged that as a priority the transport system would have to be in place before any new community hospital could be fully financed.
"It’s absolutely insane," he said on the current set-up. "It’s a bloody disgrace that in the strath you have two public bus services which don’t integrate with each other.
"You have the situation that there are no buses whatsoever and then two turn up from different companies at the same time."
Four sites have been earmarked for the new hospital:
• On land on Granish Farm on the eastern side of the northbound B9152, just outside the village;
• Milton, beside the A9 underpass leading to High Burnside;
• The Cairngorm Technology Park at Dalfaber;
• The pony field by the Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
Those attending the meeting agreed that an integrated transport system would be essential to the success of the new hospital, wherever it was located.
Getting patients to the new hospital will be the central issue, said Aviemore Highland councillor Bill Lobban.
"Transport is everything, and now is the time to address this. It’s the chicken and egg situation – if we don’t produce the buses, how can people use them?
"We hear a lot of nonsense these days about ‘green’ transport policies, but let me tell you, most people don’t give a damn about what colour the bus is, they just want efficient ones!"
Ms Thompson replied: "We have talked about this. We know this is an issue not just with patients but with staff. Accessing new premises is going to be a very important point during the consultation, and the point is very valid."
A transport and access survey is to be carried out by a dedicated working group which is in the process of being established.
The public consultation phase got under way on April 21, and NHS Highland representatives will be attending meetings of community councils and other organisations.
They are organising a series of drop-in events to spread the word about the consultation on the proposed redesign of health care services in the strath including the new hospital.
Mr Nigel Small, director of operations for NHS Highland’s South and Mid operational unit, said: "We aim to reach as many people as possible over the next three months, when the public consultation takes place.
"I would urge members of the public, as well as our own staff, to do their bit by trying to get along to the various events or even arrange their own local events."
Meanwhile, NHS Highland is arranging for the summary consultation document to be delivered to every household and business in the strath from May 19.
