Near million-pound project to upgrade roof and modernise Jubilee Hospital in Huntly to begin
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A NEAR million-pound project to refurbish and modernise Huntly's Jubilee Hospital is set to get underway.
Work to replace the roof of the 18-bed Rothieden Unit will begin next week, along with modernisation works, including the installation of solar panels.
The roof replacement is the most significant part of the project. It is estimated this work will take between six and nine months to complete.
In that period, solar panels will be installed and internal works to modernise the ward and the refurbishment of fittings will be completed.
The funding required to complete the job has been provided by the Scottish Government, NHS Grampian, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Friends of Jubilee Hospital.
Chair of the Aberdeenshire Integration Joint Board (IJB), Councillor Anne Stirling (Turriff and District, Liberal Democrat), said the news will be a "real boost for the Huntly community".
She added: “This represents a significant investment in Jubilee Hospital and our thanks go out to the Scottish Government, NHS Grampian and of course, the Friends of Jubilee Hospital group.
“Our community hospitals offer a fantastic and vital service, keeping care close to home for many people, so I am thrilled that work to improve this much-loved facility is beginning.”
Location manager for Huntly and Alford, Fiona Lovie, welcomed the news, adding that she hopes disruption can be kept "to a minimum" during the works.
She added: “This is great news, and I am absolutely delighted that work will begin soon.
"There may be some disruption to how we operate at the hospital as the works progress, but we will work to ensure that it is kept to a minimum.
“Finally, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has been involved in getting this project off the ground.”
Friends of Jubilee have been fundraising and pushing for upgrades at the hospital for many years.
The group's financial contribution to the upgrades is the single largest donation since its inception. While the exact figure is not yet known, it is into the tens of thousands.
Chairperson Fiona Murray thanked everyone who has donated to the group, and described the news of the upgrades as "reasurring".
"We are indebted to the many patients and their families for their generous donations over the years," she said.
"We are happy that it's imminent because in the future we will have a wonderful, modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose community hospital.
"For Huntly and environs, it will provide a first-class facility which will set the standard in rural hospital care.
"In the long-term it'll be a big boost. It's very reassuring."
Fiona added that Friends of Jubilee will continue to raise funds for the hospital while it's closed.
