Patients on a specialist ward at a Highland hospital are to be transferred to Inverness.
The decision to move the older adult mental health services on the Lynwilg ward at St Vincent’s Hospital in Kingussie is part of a wider shake-up of services in Badenoch and Strathspey.
The service will move to New Craigs Hospital in the Highland capital by the end of March or possibly sooner.
There are currently only three patients in the unit and NHS Highland has already confirmed that no more patients will be admitted.
The transfer is happening slightly earlier than originally planned partly because of difficulties staffing the unit.
Dr Boyd Peters, associate medical director for mental health and clinical lead for the redesign of service across Badenoch and Strathspey said: “Over the last 12 months audits have shown that half of the patients who have been admitted are not local and the transfer to Inverness will improve quality of care and access for more people. The benefits include 24/7 access to specialist staff and services.”
The changes required in New Craigs to accommodate the transfer will be complete shortly and this will allow the move to take place.”
He added: “A plan for each of the patients has been agreed and discussed with families. I am confident that alternative arrangements will be in place before the end of March, or sooner if possible.”
NHS Highland confirmed that no staff will be made redundant and will be offered various immediate choices such as to work in new community posts funded from the redesigned older adult service or in the new hospital in Aviemore once it opens.