New community hospital opened in Sutherland

By SCOTT MACNAB
Published on 23/08/2012 04:52

A NEW community hospital in the Highlands was formally opened by health minister Michael Matheson today as more than £30 million of NHS funding for the area was set out.

The new £8.3million Migdale hospital in Bonar Bridge, Sutherland, started taking patients last year and replaced the existing 150-year-old hospital in the village. It has 22 beds and has improved inpatient facilities in two units – one for elderly mental health and another with GP-led beds.

Further investment for the area today includes the £5 million Tain Health Centre and the £9.5 million Argyll and Bute Mental Health Unit at Lochgilphead.

Mr Matheson, the minister for public health, said: “Having the right facilities in the right place is important to people across Scotland and that is why we are determined to ensure both staff and patients the length and breadth of the country can work and be treated in the best possible surroundings.

“This significant investment in health building projects clearly sets out the strength of our commitment to the NHS in Scotland, and will mean that we can provide more sustainable, high quality and continually improving health care services close to home in Highland and across the country.”

Mr Matheson also visited the new linear accelerator at Raigmore Hospital and the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Resource Centre in Inverness.