NHS Highland has confirmed that work on the Initial Agreement for the replacement Belford Hospital in Lochaber is underway.
At the Lochaber Health and Social Care Redesign steering group on Thursday, 25th March the Health Board outlined that, following further local consultation; the Initial Agreement will be submitted to the Scottish Government in October 2021 for their consideration at their November meeting.
The Initial Agreement is the first of three documents which are required to be prepared as part of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual (SCIM) business case process. This will demonstrate the case for change and how a replacement Belford fits with both local and national policy and priorities.
NHS Highland’s Chief Officer, Louise Bussell said: “I understand that progress has been long awaited after years of hard work and local commitment to the development of a new hospital in Lochaber.
“Along with the establishment of the Project Board, this submission will be a significant step in the process and underlines that NHS Highland is fully committed to the construction of a replacement Belford Hospital.”
The Steering Group heard a presentation from Dr Emma Watson, NHS Highland’s Deputy Medical Director, which outlined the Health Board’s shared clinical model for Rural General Hospitals across Highland, Argyll and Bute.
Dr Watson said: “This is an exciting opportunity for NHS Highland to develop a strategy for the replacement Belford Hospital. Although much work remains to be done in finalising the model for the replacement hospital, it outlines NHS Highland’s plan to enhance the level of local service provision in Lochaber.
“We are now in the position to identify dedicated time to meet with the community representatives and clinical staff from the Belford Hospital to establish the detail of the clinical model for the new hospital. We will continue to share this with the wider community as it evolves.”
Read more about Lochaber health and social care redesign.