The NHS Highland board has approved plans to upgrade Raigmore Hospital.

According to the BBC, the plans include the hospital's operating theatres and critical care services.

The proposals, said to cost £20m, will now be submitted to the Government and if approved, work could begin in 2015.

In a statement last week, the board of NHS Highland responded to a newspaper report that criticised the hospitals' services.

Board Chairman, Garry Coutts, said he felt the article provided an "unfair impression" of the condition of the facilities.

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He added: "A report will be going to a meeting of the NHS Highland board on Thursday which makes a case for investment being prioritised to upgrade our theatres.

"While the newspaper today [June 24] accurately reports that our theatres are in need of upgrading to achieve modern standards there is no suggestion, as is asserted in the article, that they are in a condition that creates a risk to the public.

"The report to the board is a 'business case' we have to submit to the Scottish Government for funding. By its very nature it has to point out where things are not 100 per cent compliant with the most modern standards.

"However, the fact that we have identified where we need to make improvements does not mean that things are unsafe at the present."

(JP/CD)