The First Minister yesterday hailed a multi-million pound Aberdeenshire health centre as an example for Scotland as she met the first baby born there and one born just 15 hours ahead of her visit.
Pulling the curtain back on a plaque, Nicola Sturgeon also declared the “transformational” £14.7 million Inverurie Health and Care Hub officially open.
As the largest integrated health care centre in Scotland, it will be accessible to 30,000 local patients with a variety of needs.
It includes a GP, physiotherapy department, dental surgery and a community maternity unit and will act as the blueprint for many more integrated care facilities to come.
During her visit to the centre, which has been open for 12 months, Ms Sturgeon said: “Obviously in all parts of the country the real focus is on making sure health and social care services are properly integrated.
“That means staff working together in more joined-up ways than in the past, but there’s no doubt it makes a huge difference if there are fit-for-purpose, state-of-the-art facilities where different services and treatments are provided under one roof.
“In terms of the scale of this hub here, and the services provided here, it definitely offers an example and model for different parts of Scotland.
“It has been operational for almost a year now but I think it’s fitting to have a formal opening for a facility that is as important and groundbreaking as this one.”
Upon arriving, Ms Sturgeon met with Newmachar parents Yolanda and Jonny Smith who were the first parents to welcome a baby in the new ward.
Revisiting the room where with their bundle of joy, Cruz, entered the world on January 31, the family smiled as they posed for pictures with Ms Sturgeon, prompting the first minister to say “He’s so relaxed in front of the cameras”.
Mum Yolanda said: “It was nerve-racking but it was lovely to meet her and Crux was great.
“We had such a good experience here and it was really nice to be asked back.”
The midwifery unit has two labour and birth rooms, with pools for water births available.
Ms Sturgeon then met new parents Miriam Gordon and Ross McDonald of Stoneywood, who had welcomed their baby girl at 7.41pm the night before.
At the time of her visit, the baby was still without a name, but dad revealed they had decided on Lucy Sophia McDonald.
He said: “The midwife who was here overnight said we’ve a little something to tell you; you might have a visitor tomorrow.
“We thought we might as well let Lucy have a bit of a moment.
“We got a picture but I can see her in 10 years asking who it is!
“Our experience here has been amazing. The water birth was totally natural and we got moved to this room so I could stay with them both last night too.”
