Replacing Raigmore under consideration in Scottish Government’s next health infrastructure plans
Highlands and Islands MSP, Edward Mountain today welcomed further progress in his campaign calling for a new acute general teaching hospital to replace Raigmore Hospital.
During General Questions at Holyrood, Edward Mountain pressed the SNP’s Health Secretary as to which hospitals are being considered for replacement in the next decade.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health revealed that the Scottish Government have a billion pounds to fund health capital infrastructure projects and that this “will include looking at facilities such as Raigmore when it comes to considering plans for refurbishment or replacement programmes.”
Edward Mountain launched his campaign calling for a modern replacement for Raigmore Hospital on 10 March 2023, before launching a petition last week which has so far collected well over 300 signatures and counting. The petition can be signed via this link.
During General Questions at Holyrood today, Edward Mountain MSP asked: “where the new acute general teaching hospitals will be built over the next 10 years.”
The Cabinet Secretary replied: “In February 2021 the Scottish Government published its infrastructure investment plan, which outlined the Government’s priorities up until 2026. The timetable for the following five-year period is still to be determined but I would expect the next plan to be published in late 2025 or early 2026.”
Edward Mountain MSP then asked: “The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that support is growing hourly for a petition to replace Raigmore. Given there is an appetite for a brand-new hospital in the Highlands, will the Cabinet Secretary agree to meet with the Board of NHS Highland and me to discuss this?”
The Cabinet Secretary said: “As a Government we are committed to investing a billion pounds over the course of the next ten years in health capital projects and that will include looking at facilities such as Raigmore when it comes to considering plans for refurbishment or replacement programmes. So we are committed to making sure that we make the right investments and I engage with NHS Highland, I’ve just come from a call which involved a discussion with the Chief Executive of NHS Highland to look at what further investments are necessary.”
Following the exchange Edward Mountain MSP said:
“There’s £1 billion of funding available to build new hospitals and NHS Highland must receive its fair share of that to replace Raigmore.
“I am also pleased to hear from the Cabinet Secretary that he is already speaking to NHS Highland about the infrastructure they need to deliver the health care Highlanders deserve.
“Every signature to my petition makes a stronger case to the Scottish Government that the Highlands needs a brand-new hospital. I would therefore everyone to sign the petition and then share it with their family, friends and neighbours too.
“If you are unable to sign the petition online then please feel free to visit my Regional Office in Inverness, where my staff will be happy to help people sign the petition in person.”