Tenth anniversary celebrations for elderly care home

NHS Lothian's older people's champion Anne Jarvie was expected at the home to help residents at the 60-bed unit celebrate.

Miss Jarvie, a former Chief Nursing Officer, said: "I first visited Ferryfield House when it was built and was extremely impressed with the facilities.

"Ferryfield is one of the most successful establishments of its kind in the country. The environment is homely, bright and very comfortable and patients receive a high quality of care.

"I am currently working closely with managers and clinicians, looking at all our services for older patients to ensure that we continue to meet their needs."

Murray Duncanson, chief operating officer at the Primary Care Organisation at NHS Lothian, said: "Today is all about a celebration, particularly for our patients and there has been a lot of hard work put in, especially by staff and other groups into making this a day for all our patients to enjoy."

Ferryfield House opened in October 1996 and was the first NHS facility provided in Scotland through the Private Finance Initiative.

It replaced the Northern General Hospital, which was demolished shortly after the new facility opened.