New Craigs set to be location for midwifery hub in Highland capital
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A new midwifery hub for the Highland capital has been given the go-ahead at the city’s psychiatric hospital.
Plans to transform an unused ward at New Craigs into a base for community midwives also includes new office space for the national Mental Health Tribunal Service.
The project, approved by Highland Council planning officials, means Clava – a residential stand-alone ward – will be converted into the new base, costing around £230,000. The works are due to be complete in May.
An NHS Highland spokesman said: “The midwives are relocating from Raigmore to a more suitable environment to establish a midwifery community hub.
“This is an existing team so the key investment is the redesign of the old ward, which is not being used, to provide a suitable location that will be fit for purpose for the future.
“The Mental Health Tribunal [service] is a new, dedicated space for future tribunals to be held for patients at New Craigs Hospital.
“It will provide an improved facility for our patients to access.
“The two services are stand-alone but due to the work getting under way on the separate parts of the building the planning permission has been combined.
“We are excited about this investment in providing improved facilities for our community and staff members.”
He added: “This is an exciting step in creating facilities for community midwives and their support team. It will also improve access for patients.”
Consultation offices, training rooms and office space are proposed in the application, made in the name of Robertson Healthcare (New Craigs) Limited. It will have 15 car parking spaces.
Planning case officer Jenna Baldie said: “The site is a detached building which currently houses a residential ward within the New Craigs campus.
“Internal alterations are proposed to facilitate the proposed use with no alterations proposed to the exterior of the building. The proposal will not be detrimental to residential and visual amenity.
“The proposal is considered to comply with the local development plan and non-statutory guidance. The proposal will not adversely affect the appearance of the existing building or the character of the surrounding area; nor will it have a detrimental impact upon neighbouring amenity.”
The role of the Mental Health Tribunals Service is to consider and determine applications for compulsory treatment orders and to consider appeals against compulsory measures in individual cases.
A spokeswoman for the service said there were no plans to move to Inverness to open a permanent office, but it was hoped as Covid restrictions ease to hold tribunals around the country, including in Inverness.
She said: “It is hoped to resume holding some hearings in person in Inverness, as in other parts of Scotland, in line with relaxation of the restrictions relating to the pandemic.”
