Health chiefs are drawing up secret plans for an £88.5million revamp of the biggest hospital in the north.
The Press and Journal has learned that NHS Highland is hoping to secure £76million for a major “redevelopment” of the ageing Raigmore Hospital in Inverness over the next decade.
A further £12.5million has been set aside to install new “cladding” around the main tower block at the hospital site between 2019 and 2022.
And the health board has also earmarked £21million for new GP surgeries in the Highland capital to enable services to “keep pace” with the city’s rapid expansion.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said: “It’s good news indeed that Raigmore Hospital will be getting an upgrade over the next few years – it has been on the cards for a while. It should provide a better working environment for staff and be better all round for patients, allowing NHS Highland to look at the redesign of services.
“The £21million for new GP surgeries for Inverness is also good news, but I am still concerned about the overall investment in primary care, particularly when it comes to investment for attracting new trainee GPs to remote, rural areas.”
Elsewhere in the Highlands, a total of £19.9million has been earmarked for a replacement for the Belford Hospital in Fort William, and £5.3million is proposed to be spent on “asset life extension” at Caithness General in Wick.
The proposed revamp at Raigmore would represent the biggest investment at the site since it was built, with the modern buildings dating back to 1980.
The money is subject to a bid to the Scottish Government.
The projected spending is contained in a draft capital plan for the next 10 years which will be discussed by health board members at a meeting next week.
Last night, an NHS Highland spokesman said: “Within our capital plan we have put down a marker for a potential significant investment in Raigmore Hospital to ensure it remains fit for purpose for the future.
“It is very early days – this will require to go through the Scottish Government’s due process.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We note NHS Highland’s plans and look forward to discussing them with them as they develop.”
There are few details of the nature of the revamp, but the capital plan envisages £500,000 being spent on “Raigmore redevelopment” in 2018/19, followed by £1.5million the following year, £15million in each of the three years between 2021/22 and 2023/24, and £12million in each of the two following years.
