Kate Forbes hopes £400,000 upgrade to Dingwall’s Ross Memorial Hospital will lead to more local health services
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes hopes that a £400,000 upgrade for Dingwall’s 151-year-old Ross Memorial Hospital may kickstart a resurgence in local health services provided at the facility.
Fire compliance work is necessary to bring parts of the building up to modern health and safety standards, and the project has now received the green light from NHS Highland’s new chief executive, Fiona Davies.
Ms Forbes spearheaded a long-running campaign for the upgrade works for the past 18 months and raised the matter with former health board chief, Pam Dudek, on multiple occasions.
Now Keir Construction has been awarded the £400,000 contract and work will last 11 weeks starting at the beginning of October, providing longevity to the building amid a surge in demand for localised healthcare.
The Dingwall MSP said: “I would like to see the hospital take on more local and regional outpatient services from Raigmore to reduce some of the pressures in Inverness and enhance local access to services.
“This would build on the existing range of outpatient services delivered on the Ross Memorial Hospital campus.”
She explained: “I am hugely grateful for the tireless work of the staff at the Ross Memorial – they deserve to be supported in every way at a time of great challenge for the health service.
“That’s why I am delighted that these works will be going ahead in the autumn and thank the new chief executive Fiona Davies for her attention to this matter.
“The successful completion of the fire compliance works will secure the medium term of the hospital, and allow it to have a stable platform to move forward in tackling the Highland’s future health and social care needs.
“During my last visit to the hospital, I was hugely impressed by the emphasis on rehabilitation – which helps people to be supported to return home from Raigmore and be independent in their own homes as much as possible.
“The Ross Memorial hospital plays a key role in supporting rehabilitation as close to home as possible. Due to the projected population growth in the Mid Ross district, the Ross Memorial has a hugely significant role to play in helping to meet the future needs of the area.”
Dingwall Community Council has also fought hard for upgrade work.
Chairman Jack Shepherd said: “This is fantastic news for Dingwall and the surrounding area, served so well and for so long, by the Ross Memorial. Many people have worked hard to secure this funding, so it's great to see it finally over the line.
“I'm really pleased for Kenny Rodgers and his team over the bridge, they have a real pride in the Ross Memorial and all that it does. Long may that continue.”
A spokeswoman for the board said: “NHS Highland has allocated £400,000 of capital funding to address fire compliance infrastructure at Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall.
“The contract has been awarded to Keir Construction and will commence in October. The works will take approximately 11 weeks to complete and we have a transition plan that maintains service delivery whilst the work is taking place.
“As well as the construction work, existing services will be reconfigured on the hospital to meet fire regulations and put in place a sustainable staffing model for the future.
“This will involve the co-location of Rheumatology and General inpatient services in to a single ward and the creation of an outpatient service for infusions, specialist nursing and consultant outpatient clinics.”
