> Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston will join Saturday's protest in Fort William at delays to a new Belford Hospital
Major NHS infrastructure initiatives in the north have been stalled by a two-year freeze on new building projects across Scotland. Construction of the new Belford Hospital was due to start next year, with a target completion date of 2028. However, in January, the SNP/Green Scottish Government instructed health boards such as NHS Highland (NHSH) to stop spending on capital projects, including the vital rebuild of this health facility.
Having repeatedly raised the need for a new hospital in the Scottish Parliament, including with the First Minister only weeks ago, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston will speak at Saturday's protest at the latest delays to the new Belford Hospital project.
Mr Halcro Johnston said:
"The Belford Hospital saga is just another example of the SNP/Green government's indifference to Highland health.
“Despite promises made in Inverness and in Edinburgh, the local community in Lochaber has been left with a hospital that is increasingly out of date and a replacement which is years overdue.
“From Fort William to North Skye, local communities have seen health provision downgraded or lost entirely, with hard pressed local NHS staff expected to deliver vital services from increasingly unsuitable buildings.
"This Saturday, I will be joining other campaigners for a new Belford Hospital to make clear that we can’t afford for this project to be delayed any further, and to urge ministers and health chiefs to push ahead with delivering this much needed new hospital.”
ENDS
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