A new hospital in Aviemore was approved by the Scottish health secretary yesterday.
the construction of a new community hospital and resource centre in Aviemore, and the eventual closure of the Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown and the St Vincent’s Hospital in Kingussie.
The indicative capital cost of the hospital is £12-15 million.
There will also be an expansion of care-at-home and community services, supporting the further integration of health and social care in the area.
Aviemore Health Centre and the Glen Day Centre in Aviemore will be relocated to the new facility at Aviemore’s technology park.
Health secretary Shona Robinson, secretary for Health and Wellbeing said: “The Scottish Government is committed to providing modern, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in which to provide the high-quality care patients rightly expect.
“These proposals will bring new, modern facilities to the area and I look forward to the board taking them forward in close consultation with the people of Badenoch and Strathspey.
“I am grateful to NHS Highland for the considerable efforts that have been made in bringing these exciting proposals forward.
“I know the board will appreciate the need to ensure that local people and all other stakeholders continue to be kept fully informed and involved in the on-going development and delivery of these services.”
Garry Coutts, NHS Highland chairman, said: “I am delighted that after a comprehensive engagement and consultation process the people of Badenoch and Strathspey can now look forward to the provision of redesigned services and a state-of-the-art new facility in their community.
“It is great news for them and I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to this process.”
Planning for the new services will now get underway and construction is expected to start around summer 2017, with a view to occupying the new facilities in December 2018.