Minister opens new Migdale Hospital
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The new Migdale Hospital in Bonar Bridge was officially opened today by Michael Matheson, the Minister for Public Health.
The hospital, which was built at a cost of more than £8 million and opened for patients in June 2011, replaced the old Migdale Hospital which was almost 150 years old.
Lorraine Coe, Community Hospital Development Manager for NHS Highland, explained that everyone involved with Migdale is delighted with the new building and very much looking forward to the occasion today.
She said: “Everyone was thrilled when we moved into the new building and we are delighted to welcome the Minister today. We will give him a tour of the facilities and he will also meet patients, staff and members of the local community.”
Services currently provided at Migdale Hospital include an assessment unit for older people with mental health needs and GP-led beds, offering a range of in-patient services, including palliative care, general medicine and rehabilitation services.
Mr Matheson said: “Having the right facilities, in the right place is important to people across Scotland and that is why we are determined to ensure both staff and patients the length and breadth of the country can work and be treated in the best possible surroundings.
“It is fantastic to see the new Migdale Hospital open and treating patients in their local community. “Investment in health is a top priority for the Scottish Government and we have committed to spending over £2 billion on improving NHS infrastructure over four years.”
Local councillor Deirdre Mackay, chairman of the Caithness and Sutherland area committee, who was at the opening, said:
“We are fortunate to have such a state-of-the-art community facility in Sutherland.
“The design of the building reflects the hard work and the involvement of the community with the architects in its design, which is out of this world.
“It is a community hospital in the truest sense of the word with staff going into the community to support people. It allows people to remain in their own homes or if they need to be in hospital, to stay there for as short a period of time as possible.”
* More on this story in tomorrow's Northern Times
