Not Just Caithness Where NHS Highland Acting On Scottish Government Instruction Cancels Projects

10th March 2024

A meeting so packed that it occupied three rooms and a corridor - and needed messengers to relay questions and answers - ended in a declaration of war over a broken promise of upgraded health services in Grantown.

Following the shock cancellation of phase two at the health centre project, GPs called an emergency public meeting last night in the Grant Arms Hotel and there was nothing like enough room for patients and public who wanted the full facts of the situation.

A situation which clearly appalled and baffled local MSP Fergus Ewing.

"I think the decision to cancel this project is manifestly flawed," he said, to thunderous applause, which echoed twice as the comment reached everyone in the other rooms.

Full story in the Stathspey Herald

The Scottish Government announced last month that funding for all NHS capital projects is to be paused.

This means that the refurbishment of Grantown Health Centre, currently under construction, will not receive funding for phase two of the project so work will be paused once phase one completes in April 2024.

The work was part of the wider Badenoch and Strathspey redesign. Capital schemes under this programme included the construction of a new community hospital in Aviemore and refurbishment of Kingussie and Grantown health centres to accommodate key services in both towns once the existing community hospitals closed.

The Grantown Health Centre refurbishment is the last part of this redesign project. Phase one, which will complete in April 2024, is a refurbishment of the existing health centre while phase two would have seen the demolition of the link corridor and building between the former Ian Charles Hospital and the health centre as well as an extension to the health centre to create five consulting / treatment rooms and store.

Having to pause the work means Grantown Health Centre will not benefit from the planned extension based on the planned programme and separation from the former Ian Charles Hospital will be delayed.

Kenny Rodgers, Project Director for NHS Highland said: "We were hugely disappointed when we heard that capital funding was being paused. We understand the frustration that our communities and colleagues will feel as they have worked very hard on the project for a long time.

"We have been working with colleagues in the health centre about what this will mean going forward. We are confident that the practice will be able to move back into their refurbished building and physiotherapy and the Minor Injury Unit will be based there too. Visiting services can be held in the Ian Charles building until we are able to continue with the project.

“Phase 2 of the project is ready to recommence as soon as capital funds become available and NHS Highland and Morrison Construction are currently in discussion to ensure that phase 2 is ready to start at short notice. We recognise the pause to the work will be disappointing to hear but we are fully committed to restarting phase two as soon as we are able to."

Kathy Cockman, Executive Manager for Grantown Medical Practice said: “The GP partners and the entire team at Grantown Medical Practice are extremely disappointed and demoralised that the Scottish Government have withdrawn the funding required to complete phase two of the Grantown Health Centre refurbishment, which was the last part of the Badenoch and Strathspey Redesign approved by Government in 2015. Phase two was to provide the additional clinical rooms required to maintain patient services in Grantown.

“We will be moving back into the refurbished Health Centre in April, and the Ian Charles building will now continue to be used after that until the building work can recommence. Occupying the Ian Charles building, on what we believed to be a temporary basis, has been challenging given the constraints and issues of such an old building. We hope funding will be released as soon as possible to enable this key part of the redesign to be completed. In the meanwhile we are working with NHS Highland to ensure best use of the available buildings to ensure continued service delivery to the local community."

Read more about Badenoch and Strathspey health and social care redesign at https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/about/service-redesign/badenoch-and-strathspey-health-and-social-care-redesign/