Kingussie hospital's future assured "for next five years"
Assurances have been given by NHS Highland bosses that the future of St Vincent’s Hospital in Kingussie is secured for at least the next five years.
Supporters of the facility and politicians of different hues have declared themselves satisfied that the hospital is in no immediate danger of closure following a meeting.
The prospect of building a brand new hospital for the strath as a possible replacement for both St Vincent’s and Grantown’s Ian Charles Hospital, was also mooted.
The gathering at the hospital in the Badenoch capital was called by the recently formed St Vincent’s Support Group.
The move followed continuing anxiety that the hospital could close because of an estimated £3.2 million needed to bring the hospital’s maintenance backlog up to date.
Nigel Small, manager of the local Community Health Partnership (CHP), and NHS Highland Estates Manager Eric Green were invited to address the meeting about the fabric and maintenance of the building.
Speaking afterwards, Rev Helen Cook, who chaired the meeting, said: "The gathering was a very positive one in which Nigel Small assured us that St Vincent’s Hospital is safe for the foreseeable future, and that an on-going maintenance programme is being implemented.
"There may be further possibilities to be developed in the future – something in which this group and all those present would hope to take part."
Others attending included representatives from outlying communities and from local charities, the four local Highland councillors, Badenoch SNP MSP Dave Thompson, and Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant.
Mr Thompson told the "Strathy": "The meeting was told that there is a lot of work needing done on the fabric of the building and with its heating and electrical systems.
"I was pleased to hear that NHS Highland is planning to continue maintenance to keep the building in a fit state for at least the next five or six years so people should not worry about the rumours of an imminent closure that have been going about."
He added: "Discussion also took place on future options for replacement of the hospital, including a single new-build hospital for Badenoch and Strathspey, but this is at a very early stage and would need wide consultation."
Local people became concerned in December when one of the hospital’s wards – Lynwilg ward, where patients with dementia are cared for – closed for a fortnight due to staff sickness.
Rumours began to circulate that the closure of the ward was a pretext for the closure of the hospital.
A successful campaign was fought to save the hospital from closure in the mid-1990s.
