A £150million transformation of NHS Grampian’s Foresterhill site will create an “unrivalled” centre for healthcare, it was claimed last night.
The board announced the huge investment yesterday as images of the new vision for the hospital campus were released for the first time.
At least 10 new major building projects are planned over the next five years, including the “state-of-the-art” Baird Family Hospital, a patient hotel, a new ANCHOR cancer care centre and a world-class research centre in partnership with Aberdeen University.
New key worker accommodation will also be built to help draw much-needed health professionals to the north-east.
A new 1,000-space multi-storey car park – which is being funded by Sir Ian Wood and due to open next year – will signal the start of the transformation.
Last night, Graeme Smith, NHS Grampian’s director of modernisation, said the project would offer patients in the north and north-east of Scotland the very best modern healthcare.
He said: “What they will get is treatment in the best facilities that are possible to provide.
“That means many more single rooms in the Baird Family Hospital, it will mean fantastic outpatient and day therapy accommodation in the ANCHOR Centre, and generally a really good environment for patients to get their treatment in.”
Yesterday’s announcement follows the opening of NHS Grampian’s new £13.6million radiotherapy department earlier this year.
Mr Smith said he and his team had looked at hospitals across the UK and abroad for inspiration to create a campus that will be second to none.
Following the opening of Glasgow’s new super hospital – the Southern General – yesterday’s announcement marks the launch of one of the biggest public sector spending projects currently on the books in Scotland.
But modern buildings and equipment are only one part of the health board’s new vision, Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith said attracting the best medical staff to the north-east was crucial to the project’s success.
He said: “We want to get the best staff to come here and we want to retain them.
“The provision of that keyworker accommodation and the allocation of that will help that.”
NHS Grampian chief executive Malcolm Wright said the Foresterhill redevelopment was about “modern, specialist care” for the north-east.
He said: “We’ve been delivering excellent care to the north east at Foresterhill since the early part of the 20th century.
“While it has served us well, it is important that we keep looking forward.”
Mr Wright said that although the £150million transformation of the Aberdeen campus represents an “ambitious plan”, it is not the end of investment in the region.
He added: “It is only one part of our overall vision for NHS Grampian 2020. We have a variety of ongoing and planned work that will see us deliver first class additional and upgraded facilities throughout the Grampian area.”
The Foresterhill redevelopment plans will now be considered by Aberdeen City Council and will be followed by further public consultation.