New National Treatment Centre takes shape in Inverness

A progress update from the new National Treatment Centre-Highland shows the specialist treatment centre for ophthalmology and orthopaedic services taking shape on the Inverness Campus, with the purpose-built facility now clearly established on the campus skyline.

Situated at the heart of the Inverness Campus, the new centre will host NHS Highland’s entire eye care service, including surgical and outpatient facilities. The NTC will also deliver a range of elective orthopaedic care, offering uncomplicated hip and knee replacements, foot, ankle and hand surgery, in a massive step towards reduce waiting times for patients across the Highlands and beyond.

The new facility, currently around two thirds of the way through construction, will have five operating theatres, 24 beds, 13 consultation rooms, clinics and outpatient departments. A patient and staff café, children’s play area and serene garden courtyard provide opportunities for patients and their guests to rest and restore. The bespoke uplifting environment has been designed with the full involvement of the clinical and operational teams who will work there, as well as building on input from patients.

From footage released today by NHS Highland, it can be observed the building structure and roofing works are now complete, reaching the significant milestone of ‘watertight’ and allowing for internal works to begin. The building is expected to be completed in September 22 and fully operational by December 22, subject to no further delays in the construction programme.

Inside the fit out is progressing, with theatre areas the current focus for contractors Balfour Beatty. Health and safety on site has been exemplary with the Balfour Beatty site management team winning Scotland’s regional health and safety project for 2021. NHS Highland have also commenced work on a substantial recruitment campaign, as the NTC brings the arrival of 210 new jobs. A quarter of the team required have already been recruited, nine months ahead of opening and a larger campaign is currently in development in the run up to the centre being fully operational.

David Park, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Highland said: “We are delighted with the progress of the new National Treatment Centre for ophthalmology and orthopaedic services at the Inverness Campus. The progress to date on recruitment is setting the centre up for success and we look forward to welcoming 210 new colleagues as the year progresses.’

“The state-of-the-art design is a reflection of today’s healthcare, created in consultation with patients, clinical leads and operational colleagues. With the best technology, it really will be fantastic for the people of Highland and beyond and will greatly help us reduce waiting lists and tackle the backlog created by the challenging period of the pandemic’.

“Being part of the Inverness Campus is a hugely important aspect to the NTC, sitting alongside other partners including Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, but with easy access back to Raigmore Hospital which will allow us to create a brilliant new system to work together, evaluate and develop new technologies for the future. We’re very much looking forward to building our team here, with so many opportunities for staff to develop and work differently.”

Hear all the latest news from across the North of Scotland on MFR. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.