Health chiefs have approved an £18million project to upgrade parts of the north-east’s flagship hospital.
NHS Grampian board members agreed the sum yesterday which will help with the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary reconfiguration and backlog maintenance programme.
A £10million figure was backed for improvement to orthopaedics wards at the hospital, work in the surgical high dependency unit, plastic surgery and cardiothoracic – heart, chest and lungs care.
The improvements could help to save £12.8million in future.
Members also approved a £6million pot for work including the relocation of the existing eye outpatient department and upgrading of lifts.
Further money has been set aside for a replacement aseptic pharmacy suite.
The suite allows medicines to be prepared in a sterile and controlled environment to avoid contamination.
It helps with the preparation of drugs used for chemotherapy and other intravenous medication and is used by NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland.
While the centre is still working, members were warned there could be problems in future if the suite was not replaced, including the inability to find replacement parts because of the age of the equipment.
The board was told a new suit was needed in the next 12 months and work would be completed within a year.
A further aseptic suite is planned for the Anchor Centre which will provide outpatient and day-patient support as well as treatment for services for cancer, blood disorders and non-cancerous conditions.
The building is due to open in 2020 but a new suite is needed sooner.