There is hope of at least a medium-term solution to a financial crisis that has threatened the future of Nairn’s hydrotherapy pool.
The facility is used by around 500 patients each month, but the 30-year-old pool could lose half of its annual funding as part of an NHS Highland review.
The local branch of the Arthritis Care charity has promised “significant” financial support, but the offer is understood to be a contribution to the pool’s capital budget rather than its running costs.
Talks between the trust that owns the pool, users, the health board and the charity planned for next week will go ahead on Monday.
In the meantime, it has emerged the three organisations have met privately to “build on the momentum generated by the interest of local people” in the wake of several petitions handed to health chiefs that were signed by almost 1,400 people.
Discussions are underway aimed at identifying possible alternatives to the withdrawal of “some” of the NHS grant.
NHS Highland confirmed last month that it had reviewed its £45,000 annual contract and indicated a need for change in the way that amount is being spent.
The latest talks were “very positive,” according to trust chairman and pool co-founder Captain Alastair McGregor.
Jean-Pierre Sieczkarek, the health board’s area manager, said: “We had a really good discussion about the value of the hydropool as well as creating other options.
“I think we have got to a position that everyone understands it’s not an ‘either or’ situation but need to strike the right balance of therapies.”
An NHS Highland “advisory group” is being formed to work with the trustees on future procedure regarding patient referrals.