Funding go-ahead for £12 million Aviemore hospital
The provision of a new hospital in Aviemore has taken a major step forward with the Scottish Government confirming funding for the project.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced £20 million of public money for community health projects in the Highlands including the £12 million proposal for the new hospital at Dalfaber.
It featured in a £409 million package to fund new hospitals and health centres across the country.
The Badenoch and Strathspey funding will cover the capital cost of the new hospital being proposed at the Cairngorm Technology Park, though NHS Highland stressed to the ‘Strathy’ today that the green light for the new facility had yet to be given.
"It’s great news that this funding has been announced but no final decision has yet to be taken on building the hospital," said Nigel Small, director of operations for NHS Highland’s south and mid operational unit, which includes Badenoch and Strathspey.
"NHS Highland’s board has approved the proposal, which now goes to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing for final consent.
"In the meantime, we are continuing to work on the wider redesign of our services in Badenoch and Strathspey, which would include the new hospital."
Should the new facility go-ahead, the existing Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown and the St Vncent’s Hospital in Kingussie would close.
• What do you think - are you in favour of the new hospital being built in Aviemore?
More on this story in Thursday’s Strathy.
