Aberdeenshire councillors have backed a £14.6million proposal to create the largest health centre in Scotland.
The local authority’s Garioch area committee unanimously backed the plans for the Inverurie Health and Care Hub.
The new centre will be built on the site of the current B-listed Inverurie Hospital. And NHS Grampian have confirmed it will be up and running by 2018.
It will serve 20,000 people in the Garioch area and include a GPs’ surgery, a community maternity unit, CHP consulting, midwifery and X-Ray services.
A minor injury facility, an energy centre and community dental suite would also be housed on the site.
Full planning permission has now been granted by the council, with the development also replacing Inverurie Medical Practice.
The current Ashcroft ward and existing dental unit will be demolished to make way for the development.
West Garioch councillor Sheena Lonchay expressed delight that mothers would soon be able to give birth to their children in the heart of the Garioch.
The independent member said: “I wanted to particularly welcome the community maternity unit. I think this is a real benefit for women that they can have their babies in Inverurie, in a purpose-built unit, rather than Aberdeen.”
Chairman of the committee, Fergus Hood, said: “It will be a fantastic new facility for Inverurie and I very much look forward to this being built.”
Aberdeenshire provost and Inverurie and District councillor, Hamish Vernal, said the health centre would be a “great thing for Inverurie and for the Garioch”.
Inverurie and District SNP councillor, Bryan Stuart, said: “This has certainly been worth the wait. It will be a huge asset to Inverurie when it gets built. it is not just Inverurie, it is serving Garioch.
Garioch area manager, Douglas Milne, said the facility would also “take the pressure off Aberdeen Royal Infirmary”.
NHS Grampian project director, Stan Matheson, said: “We welcome today’s decision from Aberdeenshire Council which will allow us to move forward and hopefully begin work on the building by the end of the year.
“Inverurie has expanded considerably over recent years and it’s important that we ensure health care facilities match that growth.
“The new health and social care hub will do that and serve more than 20,000 patients.”
