The board of NHS Highland has confirmed its approval of plans that could see two new hospitals constructed in the area.

In a statement, the board added that while a "major redesign of services" in Badenoch & Strathspey and Skye, Lochalsh & South West Ross were ongoing, the new hospitals for both areas are "not a done deal".

Following extensive engagement on services in Badenoch & Strathspey, it was revealed that the preferred option by the community was for change. This would involve developing a new community hospital and resource centre in Aviemore, and starting a wider redesign of health and social care services, as well closing Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown-on-Spey and St Vincent Hospital in Kingussie.

Work is now set to commence to identity potential sites for the facility and will form part of a formal three-month consultation.

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With the Skye, Lochalsh & South West Ross amenities, a similar engagement exercise was held, with the preferred option being to modernise the services currently offered by Portree and Mackinnon Memorial Hospitals in Broadford, with a main community resource centre and hospital in one of the towns, and a smaller 'spoke' facility in the other. This would require a new facility to be built in one of the towns.

Maimie Thompson, head of PR and Engagement for NHS Highland, explained: "We are in the middle of a very long process in which the input of people in both communities is crucial.

"I understand that the public will focus on our hospitals in both areas, but I must stress that they are not a done deal.

"In Badenoch & Strathspey, we will be consulting fully with residents and local organisations on the changes being proposed and looking at a number of sites in Aviemore for a new community hospital and resource centre.

"We aim to confirm the dates of the three-month consultation this month and would urge members of the public to take part in it."

Commenting on the other suggested project, Ms Thompson added: "The situation in Skye, Lochalsh & South West Ross is slightly different, in that we are not yet ready to go out to full public consultation; an option appraisal on where the hub and spoke facilities will be sited has yet to be carried out."

(JP/IT)