The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Work starts on isles hospital
Ceremony formally begins construction of Kirkwall healthcare facility
Construction of a new £64million hospital in Orkney is under way.
A special ceremony took place yesterday to formally mark the start of building Orkney Hospital and Healthcare Facility on the outskirts of Kirkwall.
The two-storey building will deal with everything from emergency to day cases, both outpatient and inpatient.
Skerryvore and Heilendi GP practices and NHS Orkney’s dental practice will be relocated within the new facility to reduce the money spent on maintaining buildings which are becoming increasingly unfit for purpose.
There will be video conferencing facilities to allow more patients to access services and to enable staff to link to health specialists nationally.
The 175,000sq ft building will also house the Scottish Ambulance Service and provide a base for NHS 24.
Conference rooms, a restaurant, shop, therapy garden, children’s play area and 320-space car park will also be included.
Taking part in yesterday’s ceremony were NHS Orkney chairman Ian Kinniburgh and chief executive Cathie Cowan, along with Taylor Gilmour, a grandson of a member of the project team.
It was a double celebration for Taylor, who was enjoying his third birthday.
Also involved in the ceremony were local primary school pupils Murray Inkster, Joel Hamilton and Magnus Henning, along with Gladys Leslie and Bill Braby, both members of the Patient Public Representative Group.
Mr Kinniburgh said: “We are absolutely delighted that work is now under way. I am grateful to the chief executive and her staff for working tirelessly to make this happen and to local people for the patience and support they have shown throughout.
“This is a proud moment for NHS Orkney and marks a vital step towards ensuring we can continue to provide high quality care in Orkney for generations to come. My thanks also goes to the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust for their support in this significant project.”
Ms Cowan added : “This is a great day for NHS Orkney; seeing the construction work up close feels really good. From the outset this project has been about more than simply providing a new facility. It’s been designed in close conjunction with staff and local people to ensure that the healthcare needs of patients – whether now or in the future – are at its very core.
“Such a facility will enable us to provide even better care and services as well as help us attract clinical professionals from across the country and further afield.”
“Marks vital step towards ensuring we can continue to provide high quality care”