Where Have the Wick and Thurso Health Hubs Gone?
26th June 2026
The Scottish Government has announced millions for NHS capital projects—but Caithness is missing from the list.
This week the Scottish Government announced progress on a range of NHS capital projects across Scotland. New health centres, community hubs and hospital developments were included as part of its continuing investment in healthcare infrastructure.
For many people in Caithness, however, one question immediately came to mind.
Where are the Wick and Thurso Community Health Hubs?
After years of consultation, planning and promises, neither project appeared in the latest announcement.
That does not necessarily mean the projects have been cancelled—but it does raise questions about when local people can realistically expect to see them built.
A Vision for Modern Healthcare
The two Community Health Hubs form the centrepiece of NHS Highland's long-term redesign of health and social care in Caithness.
The proposals aim to replace ageing facilities with modern integrated centres bringing together services under one roof.
Thurso Community Hub (Dunbar Hospital site)
The plans include:
GP inpatient beds
Care home accommodation replacing Bayview House
Minor Injuries Unit
Outpatient clinics
Community nursing
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
GP practices
Health and social care teams
Wick Community Hub
The proposed facilities include:
Outpatient services
Community nursing
GP accommodation
Mental health services
Therapy services
Integrated health and social care teams
A care village development
The ambition is clear—deliver healthcare closer to home while replacing buildings that are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.
So Why Has Progress Been So Slow?
Few would dispute the need for new facilities.
Yet the projects have now been discussed for several years.
Since the original plans were unveiled, a number of challenges have emerged:
construction costs have risen sharply;
inflation has increased project budgets;
Scotland's capital spending has come under pressure;
business cases have required further development;
NHS Highland has continued refining the designs.
In 2023 a design team was appointed, giving many residents the impression construction would soon begin.
Instead, progress has remained largely behind the scenes.
The Timeline
2021–22
Community Hub proposals developed as part of the Caithness Redesign Programme.
2023
Design consultants appointed.
Optimism grows that construction could begin within a few years.
2024–25
Further design work and business case development.
Rising construction costs affect NHS projects across Scotland.
June 2026
Scottish Government announces progress on numerous NHS capital projects.
Wick and Thurso Health Hubs are not included.
Are the Projects Still Alive?
The answer appears to be yes.
NHS Highland continues to list both Community Hubs as active projects within its service redesign programme.
The sites remain identified.
The designs continue to be developed.
The overall vision has not changed.
However, there is currently no confirmed construction start date.
Recent reports suggest completion may not happen until around 2030, considerably later than originally hoped.
Why This Matters
For many people, this is about far more than new buildings.
It affects:
access to healthcare;
care for older residents;
recruitment of doctors and nurses;
the future of local hospital services;
confidence in long-term investment in Caithness.
Modern facilities are often essential for attracting healthcare professionals, particularly in remote areas.
Every year's delay makes that challenge a little harder.
Questions That Now Need Answers
Following this week's Scottish Government announcement, several reasonable questions deserve clear answers.
Has the Outline Business Case now been completed?
When will the Full Business Case be submitted?
Has funding been allocated by the Scottish Government?
Does NHS Highland still expect construction before 2030?
Why were the Wick and Thurso projects absent from this week's capital investment announcement?
These are not political questions.
They are practical questions that matter to patients, staff and communities across Caithness.
Looking Ahead
The good news is that the projects have not disappeared.
The less encouraging news is that local people are still waiting for firm dates after several years of planning.
Healthcare investment is measured not only in pounds spent, but also in confidence created.
For Caithness, confidence will come when residents see clear milestones, confirmed funding and construction beginning on the ground.
Until then, many will continue asking the same question:
"If new health hubs are being announced across Scotland, when will it finally be Caithness's turn?"
The Scottish Government Announcement 25 June 2026
Next steps for Monklands replacement project.
Health Secretary Angela Constance has updated parliament on the next steps for replacing Monklands Hospital.
In a statement she said that, while the Scottish Government was fully committed to building a new Monklands Hospital on the Wester Moffat site, the £2.1 billion cost of the current design would not deliver value for money for the public purse.
A comprehensive redesign of the Monklands Replacement Programme will begin at pace this summer between the Scottish Government, NHS Lanarkshire and partners in the West of Scotland. Refreshed plans will be presented to Ministers for decision in 2027. While this work is being undertaken, targeted investment will be made in the existing Monklands Hospital to address current infrastructure pressures.
The Health Secretary also confirmed core services will be retained in the new acute Monklands Hospital, including A&E.
She said:
“I recognise this will be disappointing for staff and communities who have been engaging patiently for a number of years in the development of plans. However, having carefully considered the affordability of the full business case submitted by NHS Lanarkshire, I cannot approve it in its current form within our current financial landscape.
“The current proposal for Monklands is significantly more expensive than comparable programmes and would represent an unprecedented concentration of capital investment in a single health project. For context, that would be an estimated £5 million per bed to deliver.
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly – we are fully committed to building a new hospital at Monklands. However, it is also my responsibility to ensure that major investment decisions are affordable, deliverable, and aligned with the future direction of our health and care system.
"I am clear that the redesign required will be done at pace and plans are in place to take a decision as early as possible in 2027. In the meantime, I am pleased we will also be providing targeted urgent investment in the existing Monklands Hospital to address the current infrastructure challenges staff are facing."
The Health Secretary also confirmed more Community Health Hubs are to be rolled out across Scotland, bringing together services including general practice, community nursing, mental health care, diagnostics, and outpatient services in modern facilities closer to home. The new centres will be in Hamilton, Cumbernauld, Edinburgh, Ayr, Kincardine, Inverness, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow, building on the Government's existing commitments to deliver Hubs in Port Glasgow, Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly and East Calder & Livingston.
As part of the Scottish Government's investments in delivering more care in communities, the Health Secretary also confirmed two new GP-walk in facilities in Shotts, North Lanarkshire, as well as the first shop front walk-in to be delivered in a former store in a retail park in Lanark, South Lanarkshire.
Ms Constance added:
"These hubs will bring together services such as general practice, community nursing, mental health care, diagnostics, and outpatient services in modern facilities closer to where people live.
"For patients, this will mean quicker access, earlier intervention, and more care delivered in the community. For the wider system, it will reduce pressure on acute hospitals, allowing focus on those who need specialist care most."
Seven GP walk in centres have opened in four months at locations including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee, Western Isles, Stranraer, Lerwick and Hawick.