Pledge over replacement Barra hospital
21 February 2019
Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has pledged to provide a new hospital for Barra by 2021.
Reiterating the deadline for the commitment to replace St Brendan’s, she stressed Scottish Government officials will step in and “assist” the health board in producing a full business case, if necessary.
A modern health care facility was urgently required over ten years ago but delays set in.
The existing St Brendan’s at Horve, on the edge of Castlebay, includes a 10-
An outline submission was approved last April but a full business case still has to be lodged.
Since then, a proposal has emerged over integrating a hospital and care facility into a new school and community hub campus in Castlebay.
Jeane Freeman told the Scottish Parliament: “I have asked my officials to provide an update on where we are between the submission of the outline business case about 10 months ago and the full business case that I expect to see very shortly.
“Should there be hiccups or hitches in that regard, I expect my officials to intervene and to assist the health board in producing the full business case at the earliest opportunity, so that we can make good on our commitment and the assurances that we have given many times.
“It is time for us to ensure that they are delivered on.”
The health secretary was responding to a question from MSP Alasdair Allan.
The MSP was “grateful” for the “absolute assurances” that a replacement for St Brendan’s will be provided within the lifetime of this parliament.
He said: “There is an urgent need for modern health and social care facilities on the island and people in Barra have waited far too long to see this project realised. I very much hope we will soon get to see real and tangible progress in this regard.”