Construction work on the new Belford Hospital in the Highlands will get underway in 2020/21, NHS Highland has confirmed.

With funding for the new facility included in NHS Highland's five year capital plan in March, work is underway to prepare an Initial Agreement which will set out the strategic case for the redesign, including an outline of the services to be provided.

The work is being overseen by a Steering Group which includes local clinical staff, members of the community and elected representatives.

The new hospital, which will continue to be a Rural General Hospital, will be part of a wider redesign of health and social care services in Lochaber.

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Dr Brian Tregaskis, clinical lead for the Belford Hospital and who sits on the steering group, said: "I am pleased that the work to progress the new hospital is underway. We have excellent and committed staff who are constantly innovating to provide first class quality of care for local people and our many visitors.  Now what we need is a first class facility to match the care we provide

"We are exploring a range of options to provide care both in the hospital and in the community.  The future will see an increase in care provided at home and if people do need to come into hospital it will be for shorter lengths of time.

"There will be inpatient beds, 24/7 medical and nursing cover, A&E, operating theatre, surgery, outpatients, renal and maternity services. What we are working on is the detail to support making decisions on, for instance, how many beds the hospital requires."

Land for the new hospital in Blar Mhor, Fort William was purchased by the Highland Council from Tesco for £2 million in October 2015.

Working in alongside NHS Highland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, West Highland College UHI and the Scottish Government, the Highland Council acted in an enabling role in securing the site for a new hospital and potentially a new science academy for the West Highland College.

(LM)