First Minister opens Aberdeen health village

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond opened the complex today. Picture: Getty

The new complex in the city’s Frederick Street is the first design, build and finance package to be completed in Scotland under the Scottish Futures Trust’s new hub framework.

The state of the art complex has more than 270 rooms on three levels which will provide a range of diagnostic and treatment services only a stone’s throw from Union Street, the city’s main thoroughfare.

The services on offer, after the first patients arrive on 10 December, will include cardiac rehabilitation, dental, physiotherapy and dietetics services. Patients will also attend the new health village for minor surgical procedures and radiology as well as sexual health services and speech and language therapy.

Mr Salmond said: “The superb facilities I am opening today in Aberdeen provide modern, state-of-the-art services ensuring that the dedicated and committed staff here in NHS Grampian have the best possible facilities and environment in which to care for patients.”

Jim Royan, the chairman of Hub North Scotland, the joint venture company behind the development, said: “Hub North Scotland is underpinned by the desire to not only provide best value but to ensure the highest quality of provision for communities throughout the territory we cover. What the Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village demonstrates is the ingenuity and attention to detail which are central to the hub projects already underway and those planned for the future.

“The bricks and mortar of these buildings will be the foundations upon which strong communities can be built and we are proud to have led a team which has produced a fantastic end result.”

Councillor Bill Howatson, the chairman of NHS Grampian, said: “This wonderful new facility will focus on wellbeing, it will encourage self-care by supporting people to remain well, independent and in their own communities, where appropriate. This urban community hospital without beds will provide a wide range of out-patient diagnostic and treatment services, helping to improve the range of services available in a community setting in Aberdeen.”

He added: “Some services in the Health Village will be delivered in partnership with colleagues from Police Scotland and Aberdeen City Council. We look forward to working with public sector partners and the people of Aberdeen and Grampian to improve health and health services in the region.”

The new centre has a total of 275 rooms which include three dental suites; two minor procedure rooms, and 29 consulting rooms.