Invergordon ward closure 'longer than expected'

A WARD for dementia patients at Invergordon’s County Community Hospital will remain closed until at least the new year due to a delay in completing improvement work.

NHS Highland revealed this week that work on the Fyrish Ward – which was originally scheduled to be completed in approximately eight weeks – has proved more difficult than first thought and is going to take longer than expected.

The ward was closed to inpatients in September and they were transferred to hospitals in Inverness and Bonar Bridge.

Locality General Manager, Alison Phimister, said that it was not possible to say at this stage when the ward would reopen for inpatients, but the interim arrangements have been put in place until April 1 next year. The situation is to be reviewed in December.

Ms Phimister said, “It was originally anticipated that it would take about eight weeks. However, we have now discovered that, due to unforeseen circumstances, it will not be completed before the new year.

“We are, therefore, extending the arrangements we already have in place for patients to be cared for in alternative facilities.”