Replacing Raigmore absolutely recognised by NHS Highland as Edward Mountain continues his campaign for a brand new hospital for the Highlands

NHS Highland has acknowledged that Raigmore Hospital will need to be redesigned, with the Chief Executive of the health board stating: “we absolutely recognise the age of the facility and that for the longer term these facilities are not sustainable as they stand.”

This statement came after Edward Mountain MSP, who is campaigning for a brand new acute general teaching hospital for the Highlands, wrote to NHS Highland and requested for initial proposals for replacing or fully refurbishing the Raigmore site to be presented to the Board.

The Chief Executive of NHS Highland has confirmed that work is underway on the business cases for the Lochaber and Caithness redesigns, which will in turn determine the scope of what is needed when Raigmore Hospital becomes the priority for renewal.

In an email dated 30 June 2023, the Chief Executive of NHS Highland replied:

“Thank you for your ongoing support for the people of the Highlands in ensuring the best quality services delivered in the right place remains at the heart of what we do.  I recognise the views of people that centralisation is how it can sometimes appear; however I would want to emphasise that the majority of our services are delivered at a local level to communities and it is our intention to continue to deliver, where possible, health and care close to home.  We are not waiting for that to be the result of a new District General but more looking at how we optimise now what we have available to us.  Of course key to that is the staffing requirements and availability, for now one of the most rate limiting factors.  We will continue with this endeavour.

“With regards to Raigmore, we absolutely recognise the age of the facility and that for the longer term these facilities are not sustainable as they stand.  We are currently in the process of completing our Outline Business Cases for Lochaber and Caithness redesigns with the aim of care closer to home central to the planning.  This in itself will determine what is needed in a more acute and specialist setting for the future.  We will be moving forward with developing a clearer understanding of what that might be in terms of a range of services and therefore what a future facility needs to look like and, as such, the planning required.

“We thank you for your ongoing support to NHS Highland in creating a health and care system fit for the future.”

Support continues to grow for Raigmore to be replaced and over 500 people have now signed a public petition calling for a brand new acute general teaching hospital. The petition can be signed online by following this link.

Edward Mountain MSP is also planning to use his summer surgery tour to collect more petition signatures in-person too.

Following receipt of NHS Highland’s response, Edward Mountain MSP commented:

“The First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and now NHS Highland all agree – the current Raigmore Hospital is not fit for the future.

“I welcome NHS Highland’s response today and their assurances that a new facility would be designed to work in partnership with our more local and rural hospitals too. It is vital that the correct balance is struck so that communities receive as much care as possible closer to home.

“When it comes to replacing Raigmore, I believe the Highlands needs an acute general teaching hospital and this should be the number one priority for the Scottish Government when it announces its funding plans for new hospitals in 2025.

“500 people and counting have signed my petition so far and I intend to collect more signatures when I embark on my summer surgery tour, beginning this Wednesday in Strathpeffer.

“If you are unable to sign the petition in-person, then I would encourage you to visit my website where it can be signed online.

“Together we can build the momentum for a brand new Hospital for the Highlands and convince the Scottish Government to back this proposal when they set out their funding plans for new hospitals two years from now.”