Major health infrastructure projects in Aberdeen and Inverurie have taken a step forward.
The board of NHS Grampian yesterday approved the business case for the new Inverurie “health and care hub” and the relocation of Foresterhill health centre.
The plans will now be submitted to the Scottish Government Capital Investment Group.
Board members also authorised chief executive Malcolm Wright and chairman Professor Stephen Logan to agree a final price for the second stage of the renovation of ARI – so long as it does not exceed £8million.
Another £14.6million has been earmarked for the Inverurie centre at the site of the town’s community hospital.
It would include a medical practice, a dental unit, a maternity unit and diagnostic and treatment services such as X-ray and dermatology.
Under the proposals, another £8million would go on relocating the Foresterhill centre to the west corner of the campus next to Westburn Road.
The new complex will incorporate the Elmbank Group Medical Practice, Westburn Medical Group and a Boots pharmacy.
Other services would include podiatry, speech and language therapy, social care, occupational therapy and dietetics.
A report presented to the board said the running costs of the new centres would be “significantly” higher than at the current sites.
It said: “As is the case with most built projects which replace existing buildings, it is anticipated that the new facility will be significantly larger than the existing with a net increase in property related running costs across the two buildings of approximately £0.6m per annum.”
The board generally welcomed the proposals at yesterday’s meeting in Aberdeen’s Woodhill House but agreed they must begin “without delay”.
Non-executive board member and former Aberdeenshire Council provost Raymond Bisset OBE said: “Inverurie is an area that is still growing and the population there has already had huge expansion in recent years.
“This was knocked back before in 2004 or 2005 and now there needs to be no more delays.”
Chief executive Malcolm Wright said: “I think we have to crack on and keep the pace up.”