A major hospital expansion to help tackle Perthshire’s growing population has been officially opened.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the new-look GP unit at Blairgowrie community hospital represents the changing face of healthcare across Scotland.
The £2.36 million upgrade, which has been three years in the making, is described as a “significant milestone” for NHS Tayside.
At the heart of the plan is the creation of a new inpatient GP unit, which supports Blairgowrie, Alyth, Coupar Angus, Meigle and surrounding communities.
The project was heavily backed by the community with £63,000 from the Friends of Blairgowrie Community Hospital group.
Mr Swinney, who is the local MSP, said: “This is a fantastic new facility which brings together a number of essential NHS and local services under one roof.
“This project has transformed healthcare facilities in the local area and the new GP unit is a facility that the local community can rightly be proud of.”
Monday’s opening was Mr Swinney’s first public engagement in his local community since his party’s triumph at the polls on Thursday.
The hospital was established in 1901 and has undergone several changes over the decades. NHS Tayside chiefs said this latest development was aimed at ensuring a “modern environment for patient care” for future generations.
Construction began just over a year ago. The new-look facility now offers an upgraded GP ward featuring both single and twin rooms, which are all en-suite.
Crucially, the increase in single rooms will help to accommodate the needs of palliative care patients who have more serious illnesses and will require longer-term care.
The unit also has a new and enhanced physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation area, as well as a minor injury and illness unit, which gives clinicians scope to deliver new treatments locally.
The old GP unit will now be used for outpatient clinics and community health services.
NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson said: “This is a significant milestone for Blairgowrie Community Hospital. This modern, fit-for-purpose unit provides great benefits for the people of Strathmore.”
The Perth and Kinross patch has one of the fastest growing populations in Scotland. The amount of households is expected to soar from around 70,000 to more than 88,000 by 2032.