Morrison Construction has started work to build a new £70 million hospital redevelopment scheme in East Lothian.

The new East Lothian Community Hospital is being developed on the existing Roodlands site in Haddington. Construction work is anticipated to be complete by 2019.

The scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with Hub South East Scotland, will bring services from Roodlands and Herdmanflat together in a purpose-built hospital building.

The new facilities will see an increase of 60% of inpatient beds, helping to improve the quality of care for people in East Lothian.

To mark the official start of construction, Health Secretary Shona Robison MSP visited the site on Thursday, 19 January.

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Ms Robison said: "This is an important step forward for the community in East Lothian, and with work now underway we are a step closer to seeing this vital new facility become a reality.

"The Scottish Government is investing over £2 billion in Scotland's health infrastructure between 2013-14 and 2017-18. Our investment in these new facilities will help us to achieve our ambition of transforming the way health and social care services are delivered, keeping NHS Scotland at the forefront of delivering world-class care."

David Small, Chief Officer, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said: "The new facilities will see a return of some services to East Lothian with an increase of 60 percent of inpatient beds. Having been shaped with the help of our patients, this project will allow our staff to continue to provide safe, effective healthcare and rehabilitation."

Richard Park, Operations Director Hub South East Scotland, added: "We've been involved in this project since the early stages, helping shape plans for the redevelopment and enabling works to start on site. It's great to now be recognising the start of construction and knowing that these plans will soon become reality."

(LM)