Former First Minister, Alex Salmond, has welcomed plans to upgrade a north-east town’s outdated health centre.
Construction is now under way on the new £14.6million Inverurie Health and Social Care Hub, which will replace the town’s ageing medical practice.
The ball is also rolling on the new £8million Foresterhill health centre, which will incorporate the Elmbank Group Medical Practice, Westburn Medical Group and a Boots pharmacy.
The Inverurie centre will serve 20,000 people and combine dental and maternity provision, physiotherapy, ultrasounds and speech and language therapy on site.
Earlier this month, a £22million finance package was agreed on both the facilities, paving way for work to begin.
Last night, Mr Salmond, the Gordon MP, hailed the planned 2018 completion date for the Inverurie Health and Social Care Hub Centre.
He said: “This announcement should be welcomed be everyone throughout the local area who depends on the services of the Inverurie Health Centre.
“Since I represented the area first in 2007, it was one of our key targets to bring the health facilities in the growing town of Inverurie into the 21st century.
“I was delighted as first minister to develop the health hub concept and it is that initiative which has allowed this vital project and many others around Scotland to move towards the construction stage.
“The current health centre in Inverurie is not fit for purpose and has not been for many years. Inverurie Health Centre is Scotland’s largest single practice, so it is paramount we have a centre fit to serve its 20,000 registered users.”