With thanks to Tom Collins, Press Officer, Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond MP MSP
Alex Salmond MSP (Aberdeenshire East) has welcomed an update from the Scottish Government on plans for new integrated health and social care hub for Inverurie.
On 6 August, Mr Salmond lodged a Parliamentary Question at Holyrood asking the Scottish Government for an update on the £14 million project and also asked what action it and NHS Grampian are taking to keep the community informed of progress.
The Scottish Government’s Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison MSP, responded to Mr Salmond informing him that NHS Grampian have published a paper with an update on the Inverurie Health and Care Hub and the Relocation of Foresterhill Health Centre.
The board of NHS Grampian has approved the outline business case for the project and the next stage is for it to be submitted to Scottish Government for review. NHS Grampian aim to have the centre completed by January 2017.
Commenting, Mr Salmond said:
“I am very pleased that NHS Grampian are moving forward with the plans for the much needed new Inverurie Health Centre. The £14 million project, which includes funding from the Scottish Government, represents the dedication the SNP has to improving health services throughout the length and breadth of the country.
“It is good to see that the public are being kept up to date with developments with information readily available on their website, including timescales, costs and future meetings.
“I am very much looking forward to seeing the completed centre, which will be a more than welcome upgrade for Inverurie and the surrounding areas.”
In her reply, Ms Robison said:
“The board’s planned project programme will see construction begin in summer 2016, completion of the build and commissioning in December 2017, and service commencement in January 2018.
“A newsletter, published by NHS Grampian in June this year, provided the public with a report on progress with the project and outlined the programme.
“In addition, a public drop in session, the second such event, was held at the Acorn Centre in Inverurie on 30 June, giving the public the opportunity to view the latest concept design plans.
“Further public engagement is planned to be advertised in the local press towards the end of the year and public representatives continue to attend the monthly project meetings.”
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