Essential work is continuing on new hospital for Badenoch and Strathspey
Work is continuing on the £15m new Badenoch and Strathspey Community Hospital during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Construction is permitted to take place under the current government guidelines.
Project for essential public services including health facilities are excluded from the shut-down of the sector as well as schemes that will create or repurpose facilities used directly in Covid-19 related activities and to accommodate key workers.
The new hospital is scheduled to be completed in March 2021 by Balfour Beatty but the impact of coronavirus could push that back with NHS Highland admitting the aim now was to finish the hospital as quickly as they can.
An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “It is important everyone observes the guidance on social distancing and does everything we can do to stop the spread of this virus.
“It is also essential that we consider the future delivery of healthcare and make sure where it is safe to do so we continue to build the facilities that will be required to assist in dealing with the backlog of healthcare currently building up.
“The new hospital in Aviemore is a key piece of infrastructure for the NHS and the population of Badenoch and Strathspey, so where it is safe to do so and in accordance with the issued guidance work is continuing.
“NHS Highland is grateful to our construction partners and their staff for their support during this very difficult time.”
Asked to comment on the timetable, the spokeswoman said: “We fully intend to work together with our construction partners to complete these facilities as quickly as we can.
“Both NHS Highland and our contractors are following all issued government guidance.
“The safety of our workforce and the public will determine how we proceed.”
NHS boards are making decisions on their own individual projects in conjunction with contractors.
All work on Scottish construction sites, unless it is strictly for essential projects, must stop immediately, as confirmed in new guidance issued on Tuesday by the Scottish Government.