A sod-cutting event was held at Mayshade South, near Bonnyrigg to mark the beginning of work on the new £18m Midlothian Community Hospital.

Robertson Capital Projects reached Financial Close following the award of detailed planning permission from Midlothian Council Planning Department; completing the design process for the hospital and producing a full business case for approval by the Board of NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government.

Bill Robertson, Executive Chairman of Robertson, Charles Winstanley, Chair NHS Lothian, Eddie Egan, Chair of Midlothian Community Health Partnership and Councillor Derek Milligan, Leader of Midlothian Council attended the sod-cutting event.

The new Midlothian Community Hospital is the latest partnership between Robertson and the NHS in Scotland.

The project will be delivered by three of Robertson's twelve businesses - Robertson Capital Projects as overall project manager and investor, Robertson Lothian which will undertake the design and build contract and Robertson Facilities Management which will provide a range of management services throughout the project's 30 year duration.

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The new community hospital will provide 88 beds - 40 elderly continuing care beds and 48 elderly mental health beds, comprising 24 assessment beds and 24 continuing care beds for older people with mental health problems.

The new healthcare facility will also include a day hospital for older people with mental health problems, a dedicated physiotherapy and occupational therapy service, an out-patient department, including x-ray service, child health clinics, and a range of other health services.

Lothian's out-of-hours service for Midlothian will relocate to the new hospital which currently operates from the former Bonnyrigg Health Centre.

Robertson Executive chairman, Bill Robertson, said: "Robertson has a strong history of delivering healthcare facilities in partnership with the NHS, and this latest community hospital will provide modern and appropriate facilities.

"We have been involved with this planned development since its inception and are very excited by the prospect of working in partnership with NHS Lothian to deliver the purpose-built facility. It's great to finally break the ground on this project which will provide a fantastic healthcare facility for the people of Midlothian."

Charles Winstanley, Chair, NHS Lothian, described the event as a 'momentous occasion': "This significant development shows our commitment to providing high quality healhthcare services within local communities."

The estimated completion date for the hospital is 2010.

(GK/JM)