NHS gets a healthy £1bn to boost care in Lothian

Published on Wednesday 11 February 2009 09:07

HEALTH chiefs are set to use a record £1 billion Government funding to create two new health centres and much anticipated new facilities at a Lothian hospital.

The money announced by the Scottish Government this week will secure a number of major projects in the area and help the health board cope with economic circumstances, including rocketing fuel bills.

Day-to-day running of the health service takes up most of the budget but a number of schemes planned for West Lothian are included in the 1.04bn budget, and it is understood the cash will also help move on key projects like the building of a new Sick Kids Hospital at Little France and moving the Royal Victoria Hospital to land at the Western General.

More imminent initiatives that the funding will ensure are the creation of two health centres at Fauldhouse and West Calder in West Lothian.

The money will also ensure a planned endoscopy suite can be created at Livingston's St John's Hospital, with the latest technology to capture internal images of patients.

NHS Lothian chairman Dr Charles Winstanley said: "We are delivering a brand new hospital for children, a new build at the Western General Hospital for elderly services, a new community hospital for East Lothian and a similar new building for Midlothian over the next few years.

"More immediately, we will be completing a number of projects, such as the installation of a new endoscopy suite at the St John's Hospital in Livingston, a new medical centre for West Calder and a similar development for Fauldhouse in West Lothian.

"These new facilities will help us to provide modern, safe, swift and effective healthcare."

The investment in West Lothian is sure to appease campaigners in the area, three of whom were elected as councillors on the basis of retaining and improving health care in the area.

New health centres in Musselburgh and Dalkeith will also be helped by the investment.

The one-eighth share of the total 8.6bn budget for NHS Lothian works out to be roughly in line with population figures for Scotland. Around 52 million will be set aside for capital projects such as new buildings, IT and equipment investment.

As part of the budget announcement the Scottish Ambulance Service was given 195m, NHS 24 received 57m and the National Waiting Times Centre received 67m.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon added: "This record funding underlines this government's unshakeable commitment to our publicly-owned health service."