Plans to modernise Raigmore Hospital move forward
NHS Highland has approved a business case to refurbish all theatres at the 30-year-old Raigmore Hospital and redesign various parts of the hospital including relocating some services.
The overall cost of the project is likely to be in the region of £28m over four years.
It includes moving and refurbishing the children’s ward at the Inverness hospital which serves the strath.
In his report to the latest NHS Highland health board which met in Inverness, Eric Green, head of estates said a key part of the upgrade would create more space around hospital beds.
He said: "In the case of the high dependency beds, over the period of time Raigmore has been operational the amount of equipment around a patient has grown exponentially meaning that the space around a bed requires to be increased.
"This project deals with this and also ensures that all critical care takes place in adjacent areas, allowing maximum flexibility in use of space and staff.
"This allows changes to be made that will improve patient flows and the privacy and dignity of patients."
A start date is not yet in place for the project.
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said the business case has to go to the Scottish Government for their approval and if all goes to plan work will start early next year.