Boost as health campus plan gets the nod

The preliminary business case to build an £18million complex to replace the crumbling hospital and care home on Barra has been approved.

Proposals for a health and social care hub on the same campus are being brought forward under a partnership between Western Isles Health Board and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

The outline business case was passed yesterday by a Scottish Government team.

A new-build at St Brendan’s hospital and adjoining care home was deemed very urgently required 10 years ago but delays set in.

Progress stalled but outstanding issues were resolved last summer and the project brought back on track.

The existing facility has been described as “completely unacceptable”

“People in Barra have waited too long for this to happen”

for modern standards by health board bosses. More than £100,000 was spent trying to improve conditions but the facility is still considered not fit for purpose.

Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said he is “delighted”.

The MSP said: “Despite the excellent service provided by NHS staff, it has been recognised for the better part of a decade the current facilities are unfit for purpose.

“A new hospital is desperately needed and this is something the community in Barra have been united in their support of. People in Barra have waited too long for this to happen and I have made no secret of my frustration about the delays to the project.”

Councillor Donald Manford said: “Securing outline business case approval for Barra’s hospital is the huge step forward we have been striving towards for so long.”