NHS Highland has been accused of “neglect and betrayal” over its failure to build a new hospital in Lochaber.
A local steering group, including former physicians, has pointed out to the health authority that discussions first started for a New Belford Hospital in Fort William back in 1990.
In a letter to NHS Highland chairman Professor Boyd Robertson, the group – led by former GP and ex-councillor Dr Michael Foxley and former Belford surgeon David Sedgwick – highlight how they believe the area has been forgotten while projects elsewhere, including Inverness, have progressed.
The health board says that project teams are now returning to their usual activities after lockdown and that there would be “good news” ahead for the people of Lochaber.
But in the letter, the signatories say they have been dismayed by the lack of progress to date to replace the existing hospital.
They state that, despite various groups being set up by NHS Highland in 2015 to develop the New Belford project, there have since been only ‘inconclusive meetings’, with no local project manager appointed, no business case completed and no clinical model agreed.
They claimed the project “sadly never gained momentum”, adding: “Since we met with you in August 2019, any progress has been reversed and you will likely join us in finding this inexcusable, particularly since the hospital completion date has slipped from 2020 to an unspecified date.
“Despite assurances from the NHS Highland Board, the absence of drive and continual delays makes us question whether there is really any desire to see this project succeed.
“We need your strong public reassurance on this.
“Covid-19 is now the excuse for inaction – although it has not stopped work progressing hospital developments in Broadford, Aviemore and, of course, Inverness.
“We feel betrayed and deliberately neglected by NHSH, which seems determined to reduce activities at the Belford so that it can concentrate resources at Raigmore.
“Community parties are becoming quite alarmed and irritated by this trend.”
They highlight how sites were identified some years ago and it was even in 2003 that some 2,800 people turned up for a NHSH meeting to voice very strong concerns.
The letter points out how the “impressive” Balfour Hospital recently built in Orkney should act as a “template” for the Fort William project, given the similar populations depending on the service.
It added: “Both the local population and the health community wish to see a hospital providing resilient services for the trauma, general medical and surgical patients of Lochaber.
“Please give the public reassurance that the community deserves.”
Katherine Sutton, NHS Highland’s chief officer for acute services, said: “Much of our business as usual activity was obviously paused during the recent Covid-19 lockdown period while our clinicians were redirected towards managing the response to the pandemic.
“As we came out of lockdown the project teams, comprising many of our key clinical staff, have been re-established to support taking the project forward for the new hospital in Fort William.
“Our plans for this new modern facility are really good news for the people of Lochaber and will provide an opportunity for us to looking at strengthening our local clinical services so that we can continue to meet the needs of the local community for many years to come.”
