Cross-party support from Highlands MSPs to get job done at Grantown Health Centre
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The campaign to get the job done at Grantown Health Centre has won cross-party support from MSPs in the region.
Highlands MSPs Edward Mountain (Scottish Conservatives) and Rhoda Grant (Scottish Labour) have joined with local MSP Fergus Ewing (SNP) in backing the town's GPs and staff to get the remaining £500,000 upgrade of the health centre completed.
The trio are to hold talks with NHS Highland bosses this morning to press the case and are also applying pressure on new Health Secretary Neil Gray.
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The blow came after the Scottish Government announced last month that funding for all NHS capital projects is to be paused for at least two years.
More than 250 people attended a recent public meeting held by GPs in the town to express their frustration and explore avenues to get a U-turn.
Mr Ewing said yesterday: "Since the public meeting at the Grant Arms I have been joined by Edward Mountain and Rhoda Grant to campaign together on a cross party basis to overturn the decision to halt the long promised health centre refurbishment just as the project was nearing completion
"We are having a meeting by conference call with NHS bosses tomorrow morning to seek their help in compiling – led by the health centre – of the strongest case.
"Last week I sought by letter a meeting of the three MSPs with health centre representatives and Neil Gray.
"I’ve asked this be next week at the latest so that should the Scottish Government reinstate the modest capital funding needed so the contractors Morrison Construction do not have to remove their cabins from site
"The Minister has informally agreed a meeting and is aware of the numerous letters Strathy readers have sent.
"If you have not already written to him I urge you to do so."
The second phase of the project entails the demolition of the link corridor and building between the former Ian Charles Hospital and the health centre as well as an extension to the medical centre with five consulting/treatment rooms and a store.
Mrs Grant described the Scottish Government's pause on all NHS capital projects as 'causing mayhem throughout our communities'.
"Work that has been progressing for years is being stopped," she said.
"We know this will lead to millions of pounds of financial loss and appears so wasteful, money that could be invested in buildings and services.
"This is true of the work at Grantown Medical Practice which is at the end of a long redesign process. This will impact on the practice and their patients and will lead to greater costs for the whole project.
"I hope to question the Scottish Government next week as to when the capital review will be complete and when we will have a better view of which projects can continue.”
Mr Mountain said: "I am delighted to be working with Fergus and Rhoda to reverse this nonsensical decision.
"Since I launched an online petition to support the health centre we have had over 250 signatures in the first 48 hours supporting the continuation of the project."
The regional MSP added he was looking forward to meeting the Health Secretary shortly to discuss the matter.
The health centre upgrade was a key part of the wider redesign of health services for the strath which included in May 2022 the opening of the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Hospital in Aviemore and closure of Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown and Kingussie's St Vincent's Hospital.
As part of the shake-up, the refurbishment of Kingussie and Grantown medical centres was agreed to accommodate key services in both towns once both community hospital facilities were shut.
• Letters can be sent to the Health Secretary Neil Gray at CabSecFORNRHSC@gov.scot and the petition can be signed at https://www.edwardmountainmsp.scot/grantown-on-spey-medical-centre .
