Health chief urges public to consider successful schemes

THE chief executive of NHS Lothian has urged locals not to forget progress on smaller health projects, despite problems facing three major schemes.

James Barbour acknowledged that funding issues affecting the new Sick Kids Hospital, a related brain unit and a replacement mental hospital were frustrating.

But he pointed to the success of other schemes which have recently been completed, or which are at least close. He said: "We spend a lot of time talking about redeveloping the Sick Kids and the Royal Edinburgh, but there are others which are important.

"The new care home at Inch View is a place we would all be happy to spend our final days in, while the new sexual health centre at the Chalmers Hospital will be finished this year.

"We have projects offering engagement and personalisation, which have been watchwords for this health board over the past few years."