Hospitals To Expand, Ambulances To Be Replaced In £1.6bn boost

HEALTH boards in Scotland are set to benefit from a record investment of £1.6 billion over the next three years to improve equipment and facilities.

Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, said £25 million would go to the Scottish Ambulance Service to buy new vehicles and defibrillators.

Elsewhere, cash will be used to create facilities such as a 24-bed community hospital at Bonar Bridge in Sutherland and a day surgery centre at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Work on these projects is set to start next year.

In 2008-9 health boards will share £324 million to help update facilities and create new ones.

A further £201 million will be spent on specific projects such as IT and primary care – meaning total capital funding of £525 million in 2008-9. This will rise to £598 million in 2010-11.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The record funding I am announcing today will enable NHS boards across Scotland to continue with their building programmes to ensure that we have a health service infrastructure that is fit for the 21st century.

“These developments will bring real benefits to patients and staff and ensure that first-class treatment can be delivered in a state-of-the-art environment.

“The funding for the Scottish Ambulance Service is also to be welcomed, as it will ensure that its fleet of vehicles is as modern as possible.

“I am particularly pleased that this funding will enable work to start on large-scale projects including re-design projects at Borders General Hospital and a new Emergency Care Centre for Aberdeen.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “This is part of our normal capital funding programme to make sure our vehicle fleet is rotated and fit for purpose.”

Ross Finnie, the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ health spokesman, welcomed the funding announced yesterday.

“I believe this is a great opportunity for the Scottish Government to demonstrate its commitment to shifting the balance of care from the acute sector towards care in the community,” he said.

“I am sure patients across Scotland will be eagerly awaiting further information about which facilities in their community are to benefit from this capital funding.”