The first minister has praised a new purpose-built children’s ward at Raigmore Hospital.
The facility opened its doors earlier this year and was developed with support from The ARCHIE Foundation, who backed a fundraising push to help make the ward a reality.
Nicola Sturgeon toured the ward yesterday and met with staff and more importantly young patients and their families.
One youngster was overwhelmed by the occasion, breaking down in tears as she chatted with Ms Sturgeon.
June Mundie, 17, has been a regular patient on the ward and told the first minister that both the new facilities and staff on the ward are “fantastic”.
The Millburn Academy pupil broke down in tears during their encounter – afterwards saying she had been “following Nicola in the news for ages”, and admitted she had been wracked with nerves ahead of the visit.
Ms Sturgeon said: “There is probably little that somebody like me can do in a day that is more inspirational than coming in to a children’s hospital and speaking to some of the young people.
“Young people that go through things and deal with challenges that the rest of us can scarcely imagine but they do it with incredible spirit and bravery.
“The young woman who I’ve just been speaking to is a shining example of that.”
The brightly painted ward was opened earlier this year after a long-running fundraising campaign by the ARCHIE Foundation which contributed £2million towards the construction.
Ms Sturgeon added: “It’s fantastic, the facility which has been created here is really impressive and it’s providing a really high quality service to young people across the Highlands.
“Obviously there’s outreach work and the use of telemedicine as well.
“I think it’s a great example of partnership working between the NHS and charities.
“The ARCHIE Foundation has obviously been crucial to this and I’ve been in the room funded by the Teenage Cancer Trust so it’s a great example of partnership working which is testament to the generosity of the public.”
